Page 8 - Journal14_Neat
P. 8
Why Your Jobs Are Important*
by Bill Marler, JD
Bill Marler is managing partner of at Seattle-based MarlerClark, LLP, PS
(www.marlerclark.com). He began litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993.
Since then, he has dedicated his law practice to representing victims of
foodborne illnesses, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. In addition to
his law practice, Bill is a food safety advocate and publisher of Food Safety
News.
Marler Clark has developed a nationally known practice in the field of food
safety. They represent people who have been seriously injured or the families
of those who have died after becoming ill with foodborne illness during
outbreaks traced to restaurants, grocery chains, and other food suppliers.
*This article was reprinted with permission from the Journal of Environmental Health, June 2013, (Volume 75,
Number 10, p 56), a publication of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), www.neha.org.
Lauren Beth Rudolph died on December 28, his briefcase every day since he had taken the job at Jack
1992, in her mother’s arms due to complications of an E. in the Box. He told us that every time he needed to make
coli O157:H7 infection—hemolytic uremic syndrome. a food safety decision—who to pick as a supplier, what
She was only 6 years, 10 months, and 10 days old when certain specifications should be—he took out Lauren’s
she died. Her death, the deaths of three other children, picture and asked, “What would Lauren want me to do?”
and the sicknesses of 600 others were eventually linked I thought how powerful that image was. A
to E. coli O157:H7–tainted hamburger produced by senior executive charged with making a company’s food
Von’s and served undercooked at Jack in the Box safety decisions holds the picture of a dead child—
restaurants on the West Coast during late 1992 and seeking guidance to avoid the next possible illness or
January 1993. Roni Rudolph, Lauren’s mom, and I have death. The image is stunning, but completely appropriate.
known each other for 20 years. As a parent of three I wonder if other people responsible for food
growing daughters, I cannot imagine what it must be like safety—whether in industry or government—would ever
not to share their lives. do such a thing. If they do not, perhaps they should?
Dave Theno became head of food safety for Jack Shortly after seeing Dave at NMA, I spent time
in the Box shortly after the outbreak. I have also known in South Carolina with the family of a four-year-old who
Dave for 20 years. I put him under oath more than a few had eaten E. coli O157:H7–tainted cookie dough and was
times, and I faced him and his team of lawyers in several hospitalized for months, suffering weeks of dialysis and
courtrooms from 1993 to 1995. seizures. She still faces a lifetime of complications.
I learned only a few years ago, however, a I then left South Carolina for Ohio, where I sat
significant fact about Dave—one that made me admire across the kitchen table from a family who lost their only
him—one that I think all in food safety should emulate. daughter because she died from an E. coli O157:H7
Dave and I shared the stage at the National Meat infection. A hamburger was to blame.
Association (NMA) annual convention a few years ago. These and dozens of other visits over 20 years
The NMA is an association representing meat processors, have left an imprint on me.
suppliers, and exporters. Dave spoke just before I did and I have thought much about how we should all be
was rightly lauded as someone who takes food safety to like Dave Theno. We should run our businesses,
heart. It was his story about Lauren Rudolph and his inspections, and lives like Dave ran food safety at Jack in
relationship with Roni, however, that struck all in the the Box after the outbreak. We should go meet these
room. families. Sit across their kitchen tables. Go to a hospital
Dave told the quiet audience about Lauren’s room and see more tubes and wires than you can count.
death. He told us how her bowels liquefied and she Understand what these people have lived though.
suffered several strokes. Dave also told us that the death We should take their stories into our hearts. It is
of Lauren and his friendship with Roni had changed him. hard, very hard, but it will give us all a real clear reason
He told us all that he had carried a picture of Lauren in to do our jobs.
Georgia Environmentalist Volume 36 9
by Bill Marler, JD
Bill Marler is managing partner of at Seattle-based MarlerClark, LLP, PS
(www.marlerclark.com). He began litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993.
Since then, he has dedicated his law practice to representing victims of
foodborne illnesses, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. In addition to
his law practice, Bill is a food safety advocate and publisher of Food Safety
News.
Marler Clark has developed a nationally known practice in the field of food
safety. They represent people who have been seriously injured or the families
of those who have died after becoming ill with foodborne illness during
outbreaks traced to restaurants, grocery chains, and other food suppliers.
*This article was reprinted with permission from the Journal of Environmental Health, June 2013, (Volume 75,
Number 10, p 56), a publication of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), www.neha.org.
Lauren Beth Rudolph died on December 28, his briefcase every day since he had taken the job at Jack
1992, in her mother’s arms due to complications of an E. in the Box. He told us that every time he needed to make
coli O157:H7 infection—hemolytic uremic syndrome. a food safety decision—who to pick as a supplier, what
She was only 6 years, 10 months, and 10 days old when certain specifications should be—he took out Lauren’s
she died. Her death, the deaths of three other children, picture and asked, “What would Lauren want me to do?”
and the sicknesses of 600 others were eventually linked I thought how powerful that image was. A
to E. coli O157:H7–tainted hamburger produced by senior executive charged with making a company’s food
Von’s and served undercooked at Jack in the Box safety decisions holds the picture of a dead child—
restaurants on the West Coast during late 1992 and seeking guidance to avoid the next possible illness or
January 1993. Roni Rudolph, Lauren’s mom, and I have death. The image is stunning, but completely appropriate.
known each other for 20 years. As a parent of three I wonder if other people responsible for food
growing daughters, I cannot imagine what it must be like safety—whether in industry or government—would ever
not to share their lives. do such a thing. If they do not, perhaps they should?
Dave Theno became head of food safety for Jack Shortly after seeing Dave at NMA, I spent time
in the Box shortly after the outbreak. I have also known in South Carolina with the family of a four-year-old who
Dave for 20 years. I put him under oath more than a few had eaten E. coli O157:H7–tainted cookie dough and was
times, and I faced him and his team of lawyers in several hospitalized for months, suffering weeks of dialysis and
courtrooms from 1993 to 1995. seizures. She still faces a lifetime of complications.
I learned only a few years ago, however, a I then left South Carolina for Ohio, where I sat
significant fact about Dave—one that made me admire across the kitchen table from a family who lost their only
him—one that I think all in food safety should emulate. daughter because she died from an E. coli O157:H7
Dave and I shared the stage at the National Meat infection. A hamburger was to blame.
Association (NMA) annual convention a few years ago. These and dozens of other visits over 20 years
The NMA is an association representing meat processors, have left an imprint on me.
suppliers, and exporters. Dave spoke just before I did and I have thought much about how we should all be
was rightly lauded as someone who takes food safety to like Dave Theno. We should run our businesses,
heart. It was his story about Lauren Rudolph and his inspections, and lives like Dave ran food safety at Jack in
relationship with Roni, however, that struck all in the the Box after the outbreak. We should go meet these
room. families. Sit across their kitchen tables. Go to a hospital
Dave told the quiet audience about Lauren’s room and see more tubes and wires than you can count.
death. He told us how her bowels liquefied and she Understand what these people have lived though.
suffered several strokes. Dave also told us that the death We should take their stories into our hearts. It is
of Lauren and his friendship with Roni had changed him. hard, very hard, but it will give us all a real clear reason
He told us all that he had carried a picture of Lauren in to do our jobs.
Georgia Environmentalist Volume 36 9
