Car accidents, diving accidents, war…those are the obvious ways humans become paralyzed. But going home for a visit, eating some hamburger hotdish your Mom made, and you become paralyzed from that? Yeah, that’s crazy and proof unto itself (if you need any) that life is harsh. But I think most of you already knew that already.
Stephanie Smith, 22, was the unlucky person whom this unimaginable nightmare happened to. She was eating hamburger at a picnic thrown by her Mom in 2007 when she came down with a massive E. Coli infection. The E. Coli was traced back to the hamburger that she had had at the picnic, which was processed by Cargill Inc., a meat manufacturer in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
The E. Coli infection caused seizures, kidney failure and eventual paralysis (from the waist down) in Smith. Doctors tried to save her from extensive permanent injuries, inducing her into a 3-month coma, but were unsuccessful. Stephanie will now likely be paralyzed the rest of her life, at least until a cure for spinal cord injuries is found.
All of this seems even more sad when you find out that Stephanie was also a dance instructor before her medical crisis began. I can’t imagine what she feels about all of this. Rage? Anger? I think I’d at least want some kind of monetary reimbursement no matter how I felt. S when news of Smith’s lawsuit, even in the amount of $100 million, was announced, it came as no surprise. She deserves it.
Cargill has only said the following regarding the matter: “We 'deeply regret' her continued suffering, and will work with Smith to reach a fair resolution.”
- Disability Advocacy: Children with Down Syndrome
- Major Disability Related Law from the ADA to IDEA
- Law Office of P. Randall Noah
