Several more Hereford House customers, including one who claims to have visited the emergency room twice, have filed lawsuits against the restaurant company after an employee allegedly contaminated food at the former Leawood location.
Justin Simms of Kansas, Danny Soltz of Overland Park and Ellen Soltz of Overland Park filed separate lawsuits against the restaurant this week, claiming they fell ill after eating at the Leawood restaurant.
According to court records, 28 lawsuits now have been filed against Hereford House Restaurant Company of Kansas Inc. in Johnson County District Court as of Friday by customers claiming to have fallen ill after eating at the restaurant.
The Johnson County District Attorney in April charged 21-year-old Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City after he allegedly contaminated food with bodily fluids while he briefly worked at the restaurant in Leawood.
In June, prosecutors filed additional charges, and Hanson now faces 22 counts of criminal threat for allegedly contaminating food, one count of criminal damage and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child for allegedly child sexual abuse materials.
Authorities became aware of the possible contaminated food after Hanson allegedly posted videos online, under the pseudonym “Vandalizer,” showing a man urinating in restaurant-style food bins and rubbing food on his buttocks and genitals. The FBI traced the videos to Hanson’s cellphone, court documents said.
Prosecutors alleged that the contamination occurred between March 26 and April 25.
Hanson, who has been held in Johnson County jail since he was arrested on April 25 at the restaurant, allegedly admitted to contaminating food that was to be served to customers.
Hanson is being held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing at the end of September.
In early August, Hereford House closed the Leawood restaurant at 5001 Town Center Drive in Leawood’s Town Center Plaza after the much-publicized incident led to financial problems. Hereford House had been at that location for nearly 28 years.
Similar allegations to previous lawsuits
In the newly filed suits, Simms, Danny Soltz and Ellen Soltz contend that the Hereford House was negligent and breached an implied warranty that its food would be safe. They also make a strict liability claim, alleging that the contaminated food was a defective product that the restaurant served to customers.
Ellen Soltz said in her lawsuit that she ate lunch at the Hereford House on April 15 and fell ill later that evening. She contends she vomited and experienced nausea and diarrhea. The nausea and cramps continued into the next day and were consistent with food poisoning.
Danny Soltz contends that he ate an early dinner at the restaurant on April 15, and later that evening, he fell ill, experiencing nausea, cramps and diarrhea. Some of the symptoms continued into the following day and were consistent with food poisoning.
In his lawsuit, Simms said he ate dinner at the restaurant on April 26 and about 12 to 24 hours later, he fell ill with “severe stomach pain, body aches and chills. On April 28, he began suffering from vomiting and continuous diarrhea.
From April 27 through mid-May, Simms claims he visited the emergency room twice and lost 15 pounds. He also lost sleep and missed work.
All three claim that after becoming aware of the alleged contamination, they suffered additional emotional and psychological distress. They continue to experience anxiety and distress, including future illnesses or medical harm.
In answers to the other lawsuits, the restaurant has denied being negligent and contends it did not know that Hanson was allegedly contaminating food. The Hereford House also contends that Hanson’s alleged actions were outside his scope of employment.
