Woman sues device-maker over UCLA Medical Center superbug outbreak

A woman from Newport Beach filed a lawsuit Friday against a health care device-maker whose scopes were tied to an outbreak of a superbug at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in February.

Staci Simos said in a complaint filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court that she was infected with the superbug carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae after she underwent a procedure in October that required the use of a scope manufactured by Olympus America Inc.

The lawsuit alleges fraud and negligence by Olympus America Inc.

In February, UCLA Health System said in a statement that more than 100 patients may have been exposed to the superbug between October 2014 and January. At least seven patients were infected and two have died, officials said.

At least seven other people have filed lawsuits against Olympus, including a high school student and family of one of the patients who died in the outbreak, both of whom filed suit in February.

Compiled by Roberto Luna Jr., Bruin senior staff.

Published by Roberto Luna Jr.

Roberto Luna Jr. is currently a senior staffer covering Westwood, crime and transportation. He was previously an assistant News editor from 2015-2016 and a News contributor from 2014-2015.

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