The 2024 McDonald’s E. coli outbreak sickened 104 people across 14 states, put 34 in the hospital, and killed an 88-year-old Colorado man named JC Smith. The contamination came from slivered onions on Quarter Pounders supplied by Taylor Farms. Federal lawsuits are active, but the statute of limitations for many victims expires in October 2026. If you or a family member got sick, time is running out.
What Happened: The 2024 McDonald’s E. Coli Outbreak
In October 2024, the CDC and FDA traced an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak to fresh slivered onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. The final outbreak numbers:
- 104 people confirmed sick across 14 states
- 34 hospitalizations
- 4 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney complication most common in children
- 1 death: James Charles Smith, age 88, of Grand Junction, Colorado, who died October 20, 2024
Colorado had the highest case count with 29 illnesses. The CDC formally closed the investigation on December 3, 2024.
McDonald’s pulled the Quarter Pounder from most locations in affected states within days of the outbreak. Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled the slivered onions from its Colorado Springs facility on October 22, 2024.
What Caused the Outbreak: Taylor Farms and the Onion Supply
The FDA investigation pointed to Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs production facility as the source of the contaminated onions. FDA inspectors found:
- Evidence of Listeria contamination on surfaces dating back to Spring 2023
- Pooling water in the facility
- Missing sanitation records
Taylor Farms denied being the confirmed source of the E. coli outbreak. Despite that denial, lawsuits naming Taylor Farms as a defendant have been filed separately from those against McDonald’s.
Taylor Farms has a documented history of food safety failures. A 2026 Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms sickened more than 9,481 people, making it the largest Cyclospora outbreak on record in the United States. Prior incidents date back to 2009.
McDonald’s E. Coli Lawsuits: Who Filed and What Happened
First Lawsuit Filed October 23, 2024
The first lawsuit was filed just three days after JC Smith’s death. Eric Stelly, who became ill after eating a Quarter Pounder, filed suit in Cook County, Illinois on October 23, 2024. His attorneys were Ron Simon and Associates and Meyers and Flowers. Stelly later reached a settlement with McDonald’s, though the terms were not publicly disclosed.
Additional Named Plaintiffs
Other named plaintiffs include Clarissa DeBock of Nebraska and an unnamed Colorado teenager who developed HUS, the serious kidney condition that requires dialysis. The Colorado teen’s case involves the most severe injury type in the outbreak.
Class Actions Filed Against McDonald’s
Two class action lawsuits were filed in federal court:
- A class action in the Northern District of Illinois against McDonald’s
- A class action in the Northern District of California against Taylor Farms
No multi-district litigation (MDL) has been formed as of mid-2026. Cases are consolidating in federal court in Illinois.
Marler Clark Lawsuits Against Taylor Farms
Marler Clark, one of the country’s best-known food safety law firms, filed separate cases against both McDonald’s and Taylor Farms. Taylor Farms was sued in St. Louis County Circuit Court and in federal court, with the federal filing coming in April 2025.
Is There an Open McDonald’s E. Coli Settlement?
No approved class action settlement exists as of September 2026. There is no open claim form where victims can submit their information for compensation.
What does exist: individual personal injury lawsuits are active and attorneys are still accepting clients. The Eric Stelly case settled individually, which shows McDonald’s is willing to resolve cases, but there is no class-wide settlement process in place.
If you got sick from the 2024 McDonald’s outbreak, your path to compensation runs through an individual personal injury attorney, not a class action claim form.
The October 2026 Deadline: Why This Matters Now
Colorado has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. The outbreak peaked in September and October 2024. That means the filing deadline for many Colorado victims falls in September and October 2026.
If you were one of the 29 Colorado victims or you got sick in one of the other 13 affected states, check your state’s personal injury statute of limitations immediately. Missing the deadline means losing your right to sue, regardless of how serious your illness was.
States with shorter limitations periods may have deadlines that have already passed. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.
What Victims Can Recover
Victims of food poisoning outbreaks can pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills (hospital stays, dialysis for HUS cases, follow-up care)
- Lost wages during illness and recovery
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term health consequences (HUS can cause permanent kidney damage)
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost someone
HUS cases, which occurred in four confirmed victims, carry the highest damages because they involve kidney failure requiring dialysis and can cause permanent organ damage.
How to Take Action If You Got Sick
Step 1: Get your medical records. Pull all records from your doctor visits, emergency room visits, or hospitalizations around the time of illness. A confirmed E. coli O157:H7 lab test is the strongest evidence.
Step 2: Document your McDonald’s visit. Find any receipts, credit card records, or app order history showing you ate a Quarter Pounder at McDonald’s in September or October 2024.
Step 3: Contact a food safety attorney immediately. Given the October 2026 deadline, time is critical. Two firms with active cases in this outbreak are:
- Ron Simon and Associates (filed the first case)
- Marler Clark (filed against both McDonald’s and Taylor Farms)
Many food safety attorneys work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.
Step 4: File a complaint with the FDA. Report foodborne illness at FDA’s MedWatch portal or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Step 5: Report to the CDC. Contact your state health department, which will report confirmed cases to the CDC.
Frequently Asked Questions About the McDonald’s E. Coli Lawsuit
How many people got sick in the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak?
The CDC confirmed 104 people sick across 14 states, with 34 hospitalizations and 1 death. The outbreak was caused by E. coli O157:H7 in fresh slivered onions on Quarter Pounders. Colorado had the most cases at 29. The investigation was formally closed December 3, 2024.
Who died in the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak?
James Charles Smith, known as JC Smith, age 88, of Grand Junction, Colorado died on October 20, 2024. He had eaten at McDonald’s twice before becoming ill. His death triggered the first lawsuit, filed three days later on October 23, 2024.
What menu item caused the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak?
Fresh slivered onions on the Quarter Pounder with Cheese were the confirmed source. McDonald’s pulled the Quarter Pounder from menus in affected states during the investigation. Taylor Farms recalled the onions from its Colorado Springs facility on October 22, 2024.
Is there an open McDonald’s E. coli settlement claim form?
No. As of September 2026, there is no approved class action settlement and no open claim form. Individual lawsuits are active and attorneys are still accepting clients. If you were sickened, contact a food safety attorney directly rather than waiting for a class action claims process.
Can I still sue McDonald’s for the 2024 E. coli outbreak?
Possibly, depending on your state. Colorado’s statute of limitations is two years, putting many Colorado victims at their October 2026 deadline. Other states have different timeframes. Contact a food safety attorney immediately to find out if you are still within your filing window.
Who supplied the contaminated onions to McDonald’s?
Taylor Farms supplied the fresh slivered onions from its Colorado Springs, Colorado facility. The FDA found evidence of Listeria on surfaces dating back to Spring 2023, pooling water, and missing sanitation records. Taylor Farms has been sued separately from McDonald’s in both state and federal court.
What is HUS and why does it matter in this case?
HUS stands for hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication of E. coli O157:H7 infection that causes kidney failure. It most often affects children. Four confirmed victims in the McDonald’s outbreak developed HUS. HUS cases are the most serious in food poisoning litigation because they can require dialysis and cause permanent kidney damage, which significantly increases the value of a legal claim.
Which law firms are handling McDonald’s E. coli lawsuits?
Ron Simon and Associates (along with Meyers and Flowers) filed the first lawsuit on October 23, 2024. Marler Clark filed against both McDonald’s and Taylor Farms. Other personal injury firms across the affected states are also handling individual cases. Many work on contingency.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have a claim related to the 2024 McDonald’s E. coli outbreak, consult a licensed personal injury attorney in your state before any filing deadline passes.
Sources: CDC Outbreak Investigation, E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder (cdc.gov); FDA Investigation of E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak, October 2024 (fda.gov); Court filings, Cook County Circuit Court (October 2024); Marler Clark case filings (2024 to 2025).
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