A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against a Olive Garden restaurant on the Northeastside where nearly 400 diners recently became ill. The complaint filed in Marion Circuit Court on behalf of Diana K. Redman and Courtney A. Redman asks for the case to be certified as a class-action lawsuit and that the restaurant's operator compensate victims "for their damages and all other relief proper."
The Redmans, identified as residents of Hamilton County, became ill with symptoms that included nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after eating at the Olive Garden, 6130 E. 82nd St., on Dec. 13.
Court documents say the Marion County Health Department found norovirus in three of the restaurant's workers. The complaint contends the virus was transmitted to the Redmans and other diners through food contaminated by direct contact with the infected workers or through contact with surfaces they had touched.
The two women are among more than 370 patrons who exhibited similar symptoms after eating at the restaurant during a period from Dec. 9 to Dec. 15. The complaint asks the court to certify as part of the class covered by the potential lawsuit anyone who ate there during that period and became ill.
The complaint also alleges negligence and breach of warranty on the part of the restaurant's operators. It does not include a specific amount of damages sought by the victims.
Attorneys for the Redmans and for Orlando, Fla.-based Darden Restaurants -- the parent company of Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones restaurants -- could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Bob Scott, senior manager of total quality for Darden Restaurants, said he had not seen the complaint and could not comment on the allegations.
Scott was at the Indianapolis restaurant Tuesday to oversee its reopening and said the company is committed "to regaining the trust" of those affected.
"We are ready to accept that challenge," he said.