Now the Lawsuits Against Firefly Have Started Filing In

The inevitable lawsuits have started to trickle in following the salmonella outbreak at Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar that landed 89 people with food poisoning and led to a shut down by the Southern Nevada Health District on April 26.

So far, 45 people from Florida, Massachusetts, California and Indiana have contacted Seattle attorney Bill Marler about potential lawsuits stemming from the outbreak.

Vegas Inc details the lawsuits filed so far. Las Vegans Tzahi and Julia Salomon "ate at Firefly on April 23 and ordered sangria, mojitos and several plates of tapas." Tzahi Salomon landed in the emergency room the next day with symptoms of food poisoning, while his wife Julia suffered similar symptoms. Their lawsuit calls for $10,000 in damages.

Four airman including George Jones, who had just completed a mission at Nellis Air Force Base on April 21 celebrated at Firefly with "a few pitchers of mojitos and 25 tapas plates to share, including several salads, spare ribs and bacon-wrapped dates." Jones spent eight days in bed and went to the emergency room three times.

Another attorney, Ryan Osterholm in Minnesota, fielded calls from more than 20 potential clients.

SNHD found a bevy of issues during their inspection, revealing 44 demerits. Among the violations, kitchen employees handling food with bare, unwashed hands and storing ingredients — including meat — at improper temperatures. Inspectors even found a thermometer that read 100 degrees despite being submerged in ice water.

This is by far the largest foodborne illness outbreak since Thanksgiving weekend 1997 when 40 people said they ate at Binion's Coffee Shop and got sick. Twenty-seven had the same strain of salmonellosis.

Firefly remains closed while SNHD inspectors try to find the root of the outbreak. They took samples of more the 30 different foods at the restaurant to determine the source.
· What the Firefly Outbreak Means for the Restaurant's Future and the Alleged Victims' Pocketbooks [Vegas Inc]
· All Coverage of Firefly [~ELV~]