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KAILUA-KONA – A class action lawsuit was filed against Genki Sushi, distributor and importer responsible for the 2016 hepatitis A outbreak, which infected nearly 300 people and exposed them many others.
Qualified members of the group have until November 29 to file a claim claiming up to $ 350 on the preliminary settlement of $ 4.5 million announced Friday by Marler Clark, the US law firm specializing in food safety, and the Perkin and Faria, Hawaii-based companies, and Starn, O Toole, Marcus and Fisher.
"This is the only time and you have until the end of November to make a claim," said Norman Cheng, managing partner of Starn, O'Toole, Marcus and Fisher, based in Honolulu. "After that, you will not be able to participate. We encourage affected individuals to register and submit claim forms as soon as possible. "
The lawsuit, filed in the midst of the outbreak in August 2016, names Genki Sushi, Koha Foods and Sea Port Products as defendants.
It applies to anyone who has been vaccinated against hepatitis A after eating at the restaurant during the exposure period of an infected employee but has not been infected and has received preventive medical treatment within 14 days of exposure, by example immunoglobulin, anti-HAV vaccine or blood test.
The number of potential complainants in the group is unknown because people have until the end of November to file a claim, Cheng said.
The hepatitis A epidemic, which occurred between mid-June and October 2016, infected 292 people in Hawaii. Almost all cases involved Oahu residents; only 11 cases were reported in Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. Seven cases were among the visitors.
In the end, according to the department, 74 people had to be hospitalized during the outbreak.
Health officials said the outbreak ended in January 2017, noting at that time that health care providers had reported that 90,259 hepatitis A vaccinations had been administered in that state between July and November 2016.
On August 15, 2016, state health authorities associated the outbreak with scallops served in Oahu and Kauai's Genki Sushi restaurants. She also ordered an embargo on frozen scallops distributed by Koha Oriental Foods.
The Department of Health subsequently announced that laboratory tests had tested positive for hepatitis A in Sea Port Bay scallops, originating in the Philippines and imported by Sea Port Products Corp.
During the outbreak, hepatitis A was diagnosed in several food service employees, prompting the Ministry of Health to advise clients about the risk of vaccination.
Qualified class members have the right to receive up to $ 350, according to Marler Clark. Claims can be submitted online at www.hawaiihepa.com or by phone at 800-532-9250.
Those who have been in touch with one of the 292 people that the Hawaii Health Ministry has identified as being infected with hepatitis A can claim up to $ 350, according to the firm d & # 39; lawyers.
Anyone who consumed food from August 1 to 16, 2016 in any of Genoa Sushi's 13 Oahu, Kauai and Maui restaurants is entitled to a maximum of $ 250, according to the firm. lawyers.
According to the law firm, members of the group who have been exposed as a result of the consumption of food or beverages from secondary schools may claim up to US $ 150.
Only one Hawaiian Island establishment was included as a secondary establishment, Sushi Shiono, in Queens' Market Place in Waikoloa. Guests must have consumed food or beverages in the establishment between July 12 and July 15 and July 18 to 21, 2016.
In the case of Big Island Institution, an employee of Waikoloa Restaurant was diagnosed with hepatitis A after apparently contracting the disease in Oahu. On August 10, 2016, the company said its 25 employees at the Waikoloa site had been tested negative for hepatitis A.
Twelve Hawaiian Airlines flights to or from Kona are also included as secondary establishments in the preliminary settlement. They are 118, 117, 382, 383, 396 and 365 on 24 July; flight 273, flight 68 and flight 65 on July 25; flight 147 on July 26; Flight 18 on August 10; and flight 17 on August 12.
Sushi Shiono, who is not an accused in the case, has not responded to the request for comment as of press time on Friday.
A hearing to finalize the settlement is scheduled for Dec. 11 in Honolulu.
For more information, to submit a claim, to make an objection to the settlement or to request an exclusion, visit www.hepahawaii.com.
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