Diarrhea-ridden cyclosporiasis victims poised to collect thousands as outbreak claims first lives: experts

Victims of the disgustingly diarrhea-inducing cyclospora outbreak can expect to collect tens of thousands of dollars for their pain and suffering in the coming months, experts told The Post on Monday — as the first deaths linked to the outbreak were reported.Attorneys representing hundreds of people who got sick after eating contaminated lettuce from Taylor Farms that was served at Taco Bell said victims could recoup anywhere from $20,000 to as much as $1 million, depending on the severity of their case.A death could garner a seven-figure settlement, they said.“These people didn’t ask to miss work and family events or get medical bills,” said food safety attorney Ryan Osterholm, whose firm OFT Law represents about 400 confirmed victims.One of his clients, a man in his 70s, is experiencing renal failure and is now on dialysis, according to the legal eagle.

“We are concerned he could die,” Osterholm said.Two Michiganders who’d been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis and had underlying health conditions have died, the state health department said Monday.State reports have logged over 20,000 cyclosporiasis cases nationwide — with around 11,200 in Michigan alone.Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked the outbreak to Taylor Farms’ Mexican-grown lettuce that was distributed to Taco Bells in five states.Taylor Farms issued a recall on July 17 of all iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico.But the outbreak has now reached all 50 states.

As of recently, that includes New Hampshire, which linked Taylor Farms lettuce to 17 people who ate at a medical center cafeteria and contracted cyclosporiasis in June and July.Food safety attorneys are already in discussions with Taylor Farms’ legal counsel, which will likely handle the vast majority of any settlements and lawsuits in this outbreak, which began in May. Taco Bell has also been named as a defendant in lawsuits, but its contract with Taylor Farms likely includes language stating “if you se...