Woman Blames Meningitis on Dallas Water

DALLAS (CN) - Dallas water gave a woman bacterial meningitis during an hours-long water treatment plant failure, the woman claims in court.

Rosemary Cole sued the City of Dallas Water Utilities in Dallas County Court on Wednesday.

Cole claims she received a postcard from the city notifying her that the Elm Fork Water Treatment Plant failed to properly disinfect drinking water for more than 4 on Dec. 10, 2012. She believes the plant supplies water to her home or a place she visited and drank water.

She says she was infected with bacterial meningitis on or about Dec. 19, 2012 and was hospitalized for three months. She blames it on the failure of the water treatment plant.

Cole claims the city has taken no corrective action taken to prevent the problem from happening again. She claims her doctor contacted the city to request a water sample and informed it of her illness.

Dallas officials did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious disease that can lead to death or serious injuries, including brain damage, hearing loss and learning disabilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Symptoms typically develop from three to seven days after exposure and include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and confusion.

Cole seeks actual and punitive damages for negligence.

She is represented by Michael J. Todd in Dallas.

Follow @davejourno

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