Mother and Son on Vacation Abroad Die From Food Poisoning

 Posted on February 26, 2025 in Food Poisoning

A Canadian family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after a mother and son suffered severe food poisoning while vacationing in the Dominican Republic. The family was staying at an all-inclusive resort and had eaten at the resort’s buffet shortly before the mother and son fell ill. The woman and her school-age son became severely ill, while her husband and other son suffered less serious symptoms of food poisoning. While the family began asking the resort staff to get them medical help when it became clear that they were very ill, help did not come until it was too late. The lawsuit filed against the Wyndham-branded resort the family stayed at alleges that unsanitary conditions in the resort’s food preparation areas caused the family's illness. Surviving husband and father is asking for over ten million dollars in damages to compensate him and his surviving son for their losses.

If you have lost a close family member to severe food poisoning, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. While nothing can bring your family member back, pursuing damages can help keep your surviving family financially secure in the wake of a loss. Our experienced Illinois food poisoning lawyers will strive to help you hold the food supplier that made your family member ill accountable.

Shocking Resort Food Poisoning Deaths Still Under Investigation 

The lawsuit Stephen Gougeon filed alleges that the resort was grossly negligent in causing his wife and son’s deaths. The family’s attorneys are still investigating and collecting evidence. Some of the problems the husband claims led to his family’s illness include: 

• Unsanitary food preparation spaces - The lawsuit alleges that the resort’s kitchen was not kept clean and sanitary. Improper cleaning practices in a professional kitchen can allow bacteria to spread from various sources to the food.
• Cross-contamination - Cross-contamination occurs when the same knife, cutting board, or pair of gloves on a worker’s hands touches multiple different foods without being sanitized in between. 
• Lack of temperature control - Food must be kept at the right temperature. Hot foods that are allowed to cool or cold foods that are allowed to warm to room temperature can become breeding grounds for bacteria. 
• Unsafe cleaning agents - Some types of industrial cleaners should never be used on food preparation surfaces. The lawsuit alleges that their food was contaminated with unsafe cleaning products. 

These are all fairly common food-handling mistakes that can lead to devastating consequences. While Illinois law sets strict safe food handling standards, not all restaurants enforce these policies as strictly as they should.

Contact an Illinois Food Poisoning Lawyer 

Newland & Newland, LLP will do all it can to help you get justice for your loved one after a fatal foodborne illness. Our dedicated Illinois food poisoning attorneys will fight to hold the company that negligently caused your family member’s illness accountable. Contact us at 312-981-0409 for a free consultation.