DUBUQUE, Iowa, March 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today (Thursday), the national food safety law firm of Ron Simon & Associates, along with Iowa-based co-counsel the Hammer Law Firm, filed the first lawsuit stemming from E. coli O103-contaminated sandwiches sold at Jimmy John’s locations in Iowa.

The lawsuit was filed against Jimmy John’s on behalf of Kahler Folkedahl, a patron who frequented a local Jimmy John’s restaurant in Dubuque, Iowa in November of 2019. Shortly thereafter, Kahler began to experience vomiting, abdominal cramps, and hematochezia associated with E. coli poisoning. Kahler was hospitalized for three days, and thereafter notified by the local health department that she was suffering from the strain of E. coli O103 linked to consumption of contaminated sprouts sold on Jimmy John’s sandwiches.

Health Officials Link E. coli Outbreak to Consumption of Sprouts Sold at Jimmy John’s
The Iowa Department of Public Health has reported that a total of 22 people from Iowa have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O103. All of the victims were interviewed by the health officials, and all confirmed that they had consumed Jimmy John’s sandwiches prior to their illnesses.

The Iowa Department of Inspections tested samples of sprouts served at Jimmy John’s, and also the water used to irrigate the sprouts at the farm on which they were grown. Both tested positive for E coli O103. Health officials thereafter concluded that the contaminated sprouts sold on Jimmy John’s sandwiches were the vehicle for the E. coli O103 outbreak.
Jimmy John’s has since pulled sprouts from all of its locations in the United States.

Attorney Ron Simon who represents Kahler Folkedahl and other victims of this and numerous other Jimmy John’s food poisoning outbreaks, issued the following statement: “Unfortunately, Jimmy John’s has been linked to too many outbreaks in recent years. In fact, Jimmy John’s recently received a Warning Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration detailing numerous violations in the serving of contaminated sprouts spanning across the last decade. Through this lawsuit and others, we will determine how this contamination occurred and how it can be prevented in the future, so that this never happens to Jimmy John’s customers again.”

Mr. Simon and his law firm have established a Jimmy John’s E. Coli Claim Center to assist victims in the outbreak. The E. Coli Claim Center can be reached toll-free at 1-888-335-4901.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Wednesday, in Creston. Police say 28-year old Amanda Steinbach, of Creston, was arrested at Oak/Devoe on an Adams County Warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Driving While Suspended. She was released to the custody of Adams County. And, 23-year old Cody Lamaak, of Creston, was arrested at Chestnut/Fremont on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was released on a $1300 bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -A Judge in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, Wednesday sentenced a Council Bluffs man on drug charges. 30-year old Dalton Lee Dukes was ordered imprisoned for nearly 12 1/2 years, for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Carrying a Firearm in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. His sentence will be followed by an additional 60 months for carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking, plus five years of supervised release after his prison term ends.

The sentencing was the result of an investigation originating in Cass County regarding the distribution of methamphetamine delivered from Omaha, Nebraska. The investigation revealed that Dukes was distributing methamphetamine in numerous locations throughout Southwest Iowa. After a confidential informant purchased methamphetamine from Dukes, he was arrested on February 15, 2019. At the time of his arrest, Dukes was found with money from drug sales and a loaded .9-mm Taurus handgun.

Prior to being sentenced in the case, Dukes was charged with First Degree Murder in Douglas County, Nebraska and he is awaiting transfer to answer those charges. The matter was investigated by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Omaha Police Department, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa today (Thursday), said that on Wednesday, 55-year old Shawn Morgal, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to a little more than two-years in prison, for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The Judge also ordered Morgal to serve a three-year term of supervised release, upon completion of his sentence.

On May 21, 2018, the Council Bluffs Police Department received a report of a theft from a local gun store. Morgal admitted to stealing a pistol from the gun store and later trading it in exchange for controlled substances. The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.