ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Seattle-based Marler Clark and Denver-based Montgomery, Little, Soran, & Murray filed the first lawsuit on July 6 stemming from the current E. coli O157:H7 recall by JBS Swift Beef Company of Greeley, Colo.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family of 14-year-old Alex Roerick by his attorneys. Roerick, of Albuquerque, was infected with E. coli after eating kabobs. The plaintiffs contend the boy became sick May 13, a few days after eating the suspected meat. The genetic fingerprint of the E. coli found in his stool matches that of others sickened in the nationwide outbreak tied to recalled JBS Swift Beef.

Lawyers for the plaintiff contend that the company didn’t release information about the distribution points of the suspected beef in a timely manner and that the U.S. government should work faster in recall situations.

On June 28, the JBS Swift Beef Company expanded its earlier recall of 41,280 lbs. of beef contaminated with E. coli to include an additional 380,000 lbs. Products being recalled have been linked to 23 E. coli illnesses in California, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Wisconsin.