Two families have filed a lawsuit alleging their children suffered permanent injuries in an E. coli outbreak that sickened 16 Huntley High School students and staff.
The lawsuit was filed in McHenry County Circuit Court against Huntley Community School District 158.
The suit was filed by Steven Kutrubis and Jaqueline Stout. The two each have a son who attends Huntley High School.
The two students consumed lettuce that was handled by an employee who was infected with Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) on September 14, 2023, or September 15, 2023.
The suit said the school district knew the employee was ill and contagious.
The two students, along with 14 other students and staff at the school, were confirmed to be infected with E. coli from the outbreak. Several went to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley for treatment.
A health department report said the school’s cafeteria was identified as the point source location for the transmission of illness in the outbreak.
“Eating a sandwich from the cold sandwich station and eating cookies from the cafeteria were found to be associated with illness. All 15 cases that ate lunch from the cafeteria ate a sandwich from the cold sandwich station and all cases with information available for lettuce ate lettuce on their sandwich,” the report said.
The outbreak at the school was linked to a multi-state outbreak.
The two plaintiffs in the suit said they have incurred extensive medical bills for medical care for their children. They are seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
“The minor Plaintiffs’ injuries and damages are permanent in nature and require ongoing care and monitoring,” the suit said.
The lawsuit complaint alleges that the school district committed “willful and wanton negligence” while knowing the employee was sick with E. coli and would be handling the food that was served to the students.
An initial court hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for December 10.