Lawsuits Filed Against San Diego Restaurant Linked To Salmonella Outbreak

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego area restaurant linked to a salmonella outbreak is facing lawsuits filed on behalf of customers who said they were sickened after eating at the establishment.

Public health officials announced last week that 14 people got sick after eating food April 25 and 26 at Aladdin Mediterranean Café in the Clairemont area of San Diego.

• Update: More Sick, Hospitalized After Salmonella Outbreak At Restaurant

The cases involved people between 18 and 79 years old, according to San Diego County's Environmental Health and Quality Department. Five of those people were hospitalized.

Aladdin Mediterranean Café voluntarily closed when notified of the situation to allow health officials to conduct testing and interview staff, according to the county.

"No source of the outbreak has been determined, however once the investigation is complete and it is determined there is no ongoing risk, the restaurant will be cleared to resume operation," county officials said.

Chula Vista resident Daniel Meza and San Diego resident Nubia Munguia were among the customers who got sick after eating lamb, chicken and other food April 26 at the restaurant, according to law firm of Ron Simon & Associates.

Within days, they began suffering from diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and dehydration, the law firm said. They later tested positive for salmonella. Munguia was among the people hospitalized.

The restaurant has had at least seven prior violations "for failing to properly maintain or regulate holding temperatures for the food it served in the past," according to Ron Simon, an attorney representing Meza and Munguia, who were named in the first lawsuit filed against the restaurant.

"Through this and other lawsuits we are going to make sure that all of the victims in this outbreak are fairly and fully compensated for their injuries, and that Aladdin Mediterranean Café takes steps to prevent this from ever happening again," Simon said in a statement.

Since the first lawsuit was filed, the law firm filed a second lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Joseph Jarvis of San Diego, who ate lamb, beef and chicken April 26 at the restaurant, according to the law firm.

By the next day, he was sick with the symptoms of salmonella poisoning, including bloody vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and dehydration, the law firm said. He was also hospitalized for several days.

"We anticipate many more victims will come forward now that this outbreak has been reported in the local media," Simon said.

Simon said his law firm now represents more than 20 victims of the outbreak.

"Our office has been receiving numerous phone calls from families, many of whom have been long-time customers of Aladdin," he said. "We will make sure each and every one our clients receives full and fair compensation for their injuries and suffering, and that Aladdin makes the necessary changes to make their food safe."

Salmonella causes an infection called salmonellosis. Health officials said symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea that might have blood or mucous, abdominal cramps and fever. Symptoms generally begin 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Illness from salmonella can last four to seven days, but most people recover without treatment.

County officials advised people who ate at Aladdin Mediterranean Café on April 25 and 26 and experience symptoms to consider contacting a health care provider.