According to a young Veteran from Youngstown, Ohio, who served in the U.S. Army, a couple of Taco Supremes caused him agony in the hospital bed. This is because David Ott, 27, has filed what seems to be the first lawsuit in relation to an outbreak of Cyclospora in 2026 attributed to Taco Bell.
According to David Ott, he ate Taco Supremes at a Taco Bell located at 850 N. Canfield Niles Road in Youngstown, on June 18, and June 20, 2026. Within a few days, his symptoms became extremely painful. As per the suit filed by David Ott in Mahoning County on July 17, 2026, he suffered from explosive diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and fever. He spent two days in the hospital undergoing various tests, including a colonoscopy and a CT scan.
“I’ve served my country for 27 years, and now I’m faced with this because I stopped for a meal at Taco Bell,”
Said Ott’s case which demonstrates the frustration expressed in other filings. Attorneys at Ron Simon & Associates and DiCello Levitt & Casey LLC are trying to seek justice.
A group of illnesses was attributed to the consumption of shredded iceberg lettuce provided by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. CDC has reported over 1,644 cases and 94 hospitalizations caused by the outbreak, with symptoms of illness occurring between mid-May and mid-July 2026.
Cyclospora is a type of parasite that may infect an individual through ingestion of foods or water that contain traces of feces, usually on imported foods like lettuce. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramping, exhaustion, and nausea. It may take several weeks before diagnosis, and antibiotics such as Bactrim are used in the treatment.
The lettuce in question was immediately taken off shelves by Taco Bell as a preventative measure. Taylor Farms voluntarily suspended production of the affected item coming from their Mexican plants. The company had been criticized before due to another Cyclospora scare in 2013.
The incident draws attention to issues still existing in food supply chain management, particularly in importing items. Taylor Farms has some experience with the problem, yet the investigation continues to determine what specifically led to the contamination.
The objective of the attorneys in this case is to get financial restitution for medical costs and wage losses of the affected people. Ron Simon & Associates has created a claim center for the victims.
Ott’s lawsuit can pave the way for more lawsuits as federal agencies continue to investigate other cases, and the total number may be even larger since not all cases are diagnosed.
People who live in the areas where this outbreak occurred need to be informed about the ongoing situation through the information that is provided by the CDC and FDA.
For people who have developed symptoms due to consumption of food from Taco Bell, consultation with a physician is very important.
