BEAVER COUNTY Lawyer for hepatitis A victims gets calls from Chi Chi's patrons

A lawsuit will be filed Wednesday.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- Ellwood City attorney Joseph Bellissimo said his telephone has been ringing off the hook since he announced he plans to file a lawsuit on behalf of three people sickened by hepatitis A after eating at a Beaver County restaurant.
"It's just unbelievable," he said.
His clients, Doug and Laurie Miller of New Beaver Borough, Lawrence County, and Mary Callahan of Coraopolis, ate at Chi Chi's restaurant in the Beaver Valley Mall last month. The Millers' children were not affected, but two spent most of the meal coloring paper pumpkins rather than eating, and Callahan's husband did not get ill, Bellissimo said.
Hepatitis cases
The Millers and Callahan are among the 130 confirmed cases of hepatitis A found since health officials realized there was a public health hazard earlier this week.
An estimated 5,000 people ate at the Mexican restaurant between Oct. 22 and Sunday, prompting health officials to set up an emergency inoculation center in Beaver County.
Chi Chi's owners voluntarily shut down the restaurant.
Prandium Inc., the parent company of Chi Chi's, did not return calls.
Bellissimo said he intends to file the lawsuit in Beaver County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Others may follow, because he is receiving more calls from people who ate at the restaurant, he said.
In Lawrence County, more than 20 people have gone to area hospitals seeking treatment for hepatitis A since the alert was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Three were admitted to the Ellwood City Hospital and an undetermined number were admitted to Jameson Hospital.
Columbiana County
At least 12 people from Columbiana County have contracted the disease. Six were hospitalized.
Bellissimo said he has been meeting with various families since the outbreak was confirmed.
"One of families I met went there to celebrate a child's birthday. They didn't expect it would be a life-altering experience," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com