A Chicago woman is seeking $50,000 in damages after a Wendy's double cheeseburger allegedly caused a severe bacterial infection that required two hospitalizations and nearly $94,000 in medical expenses. Roxie Ellis Douglas, 68, filed a federal lawsuit against the fast-food chain, claiming she contracted Campylobacteriosis from a burger ordered online and delivered via DoorDash on August 5, 2025.
The lawsuit states that the burger was "unreasonably dangerous and in a defective condition" when it left the restaurant and was "not fit for human consumption." Douglas alleges the food was contaminated with Campylobacter and other bacteria, leading to acute infectious colitis, dehydration, gastroenteritis, leukocytosis, and dangerously low potassium levels.
Campylobacter infection, also known as Campylobacteriosis, can cause diarrhea, nausea, fever, and abdominal pain. The bacteria can be particularly dangerous for individuals aged 65 and older.
According to court documents, Douglas began experiencing symptoms the day after consuming the burger. Her medical bills have since totaled $93,578.24. This includes $2,848.50 for an ambulance ride to Advocate Trinity Hospital and $24,434 for an initial three-day hospital stay. A week later, she was readmitted to the same hospital for a five-day stay, incurring an additional $42,857 in costs. In January 2026, a colonoscopy to address ongoing issues cost nearly $13,000.
Douglas's lawsuit, initially filed in state court and later moved to federal court, accuses Wendy's of failing to implement safe inspection practices, not eliminating Campylobacter bacteria, and not providing adequate warnings about the potential dangers of consuming the meal.
Wendy's has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit.