Nine People File Class-Action Lawsuit Against Egg Harbor Restaurant
Lawyers for nine people have filed a class-action lawsuit seeking compensation for ailments caused by eating and drinking at the Log Den Restaurant in Egg Harbor.The action filed in Door County Circuit Court seeks punitive and compensatory damages, plus lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, medical expenses, lawyers’ fees and court costs.
“Restaurants are not supposed to serve food and drink that cause people injury,” said Brett Reetz, one of three lawyers who brought the suit. “These injured people need to be compensated, and this action facilitates an efficient process to handle their claims.”
Owners of the business were unaware a lawsuit had been filed, said Wayne Lautenbach, a co-owner of the business. He declined to comment further on the lawsuit.
Joining Reetz in preparing the suit were Shane Brabazon of Green Bay and Linda J. Schaefer of Sturgeon Bay. The trio represent at least seven adults and two minor children and “all others similarly situated.”
The suit seeks to recover damages from the Log Den, the trust company that owns the land where the restaurant operates at 6543 Division Road, Egg Harbor, and the unnamed insurance companies that provide coverage to the business.
According to the suit, each of the plaintiffs — members of the Estes, Baur, Hogan and Roy families of Sturgeon Bay and neighboring communities — became ill after eating at the Log Den.
The plaintiffs are typical of at least 225 people who became ill after consuming food or drink prepared and sold at the Log Den during the period beginning May 1, the lawsuit stated.
Serving food and beverages that caused ailments were a breach of “the implied warranty” of the business that those items were “reasonably fit for human consumption,” the lawsuit stated.
Most of the ailments were reported during the week prior to June 1, according to the Door County Health Department.
Investigations into ailments alleged by 241 people led the department to conclude that a fecal source contaminated the well water used by the restaurant. The contamination caused an outbreak of gastro-intestinal illness.
County officials continue their investigation into the source of the contamination. The restaurant owners have cooperated with the investigation and efforts to remediate the situation, according to county officials.