October 20, 2015 — A man from Wyoming has been awarded nearly $11.4 million after he was disabled by a severe Salmonella infection after eating at Old Country Buffet.
KGAB News reports that the plaintiff, Christopher Gage, got sick after eating at an Old Country Buffet located in Cheyenne, Wyoming on October 1, 2010. Just one day earlier, the Laramie County Health Department cited the restaurant for numerous violations of the health code but allowed them to continue serving food.
Gage was infected with Salmonella and experienced severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, dehydration, fever, vomiting, sepsis, kidney failure, lactic acidosis, anemia, irregular heart rhythm, and more. He has also endured a number of surgeries and procedures to ease his pain and discomfort.
The lawsuit was filed against the parent company of Old Country Buffet, Ovation Brands, which was purchased by Food Management Partners of San Antonio, Texas in August 2015.
After both companies failed to respond to the Gages’ lawsuit or defend themselves in court, U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl ordered them to pay nearly $11.4 million in damages to the Gages. According to Judge Skavdahl:
“He cannot eat or drink water without vomiting . . . His mobility has been taken from him. He falls on an almost daily basis, which has caused him to break bones. He requires a cane, walker, or wheelchair for mobility, depending on how debilitating his condition is on any given day. His cognitive functioning has been significantly impacted. His relationship with his wife and son have been adversely affected.”
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