A 68-year-old Chicago woman has filed a lawsuit against Wendy’s, alleging that she became seriously ill after eating a double cheeseburger she says was contaminated with Campylobacter, a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal illness.
According to the lawsuit, Roxie Ellis Douglas ordered a double cheeseburger and a baked potato online on August 5, 2025, from a Wendy’s restaurant in the South Stony Island Avenue area of Chicago. The food was delivered through DoorDash in a bag that, according to the complaint, was sealed and appeared unopened.
The lawsuit alleges that the hamburger was contaminated with Campylobacter and other disease-causing bacteria, although the food showed no visible signs of contamination.
Douglas says she began experiencing serious gastrointestinal problems the following day, including acute infectious colitis, gastroenteritis, dehydration, leukocytosis and dangerously low potassium levels.
The woman required emergency medical treatment and was hospitalized twice, according to the court documents.
The financial impact of the alleged illness is also central to the lawsuit. Court records cited in the complaint show $93,578.24 in medical expenses beginning August 6, 2025.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies Campylobacter as a common cause of diarrhea and says people can become infected by consuming contaminated food or water or through contact with infected animals.
The lawsuit was initially filed in state court before being transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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The allegations in the lawsuit have not been established as facts by a court, and the case remains pending.
