“As a result of the negligent preparation of the “banquet” meal consumed by many NAACP conference participants and luminaries such as former Oakland mayor Elihu M. Harris and California state Controller Betty Yee, many were stricken so ill that they nearly passed out in the lobby of the Sofitel Hotel wracked by violent vomiting and diarrhea. Many had to be transported by ambulance to various nearby hospitals including one victim who was five years old at the time ” Attorney Mark T. Harris
“There was neither humanity nor human decency on the part of Sofitel management. . .not a compassionate word was uttered to the food poisoning victims nor a blanket or glass of water offered”
Alice Hoffman, President of California-Hawaii Conference of the NAACP
11 AM TUESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE announcing the filing of civil suit against Sofitel by theLaw Offices of Mark T. Harris in conjunction with the California-Hawaii Conference of the NAACP.
WHO: Alice Huffman, President of California-Hawaii Conference of the NAACP, Attorney Mark T. Harris and numerous victims
WHEN 11:00 AM, Tuesday October 25, 2016
WHERE: Law Offices of John Burris-7677 Oak Port Street Suite 1120, Oakland, California, 94621
Oakland CA—Attorney Mark T. Harris will hold a press conference announcing the filing a lawsuit against Sofitel Corporation on behalf of 127 NAACP members including the statewide president Alice Hoffman. The suit alleges that they suffered food poisoning from the nirovirus after eating salmon served by the hotel at the NAACP’s gala dinner on October 25, 2014.
In a stomach-churning scene, over 50 of 300 well dressed people who attended the gala NAACP banquet were violently struck by the nirovirus and in a scene out of a horror movie began throwing up all over the hotel lobby after dining on salmon and salad. Among in attendance that evening was former mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown who did not eat and former mayor of Oakland Elihu Harris who was transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment along with 11 other guests who succumbed to the mystery malady including children, among them a 5-year-old girl.
Attorney Mark T. Harris stated that “the San Mateo Health Department issued a report that would appear to fix fault on Sofitel noting that the water temperature at the time of the outbreak of norovirus was below that required to kill the virus on the hand son food service employees.” Harris also noted that those that did not eat the salmon were not affected.
Alice Huffman, who observed many of people writhing in pain in the hotel lobby was particularly disturbed that “Sofitel employees and managers were dismissive and inattentive” toward the sick, all African Americans. She said, “there was neither humanity nor human decency on the part of Sofitel management. Not a compassionate word was uttered to the food poisoning victims nor a blanket or glass of water offered.”
The lawsuit also alleges that an infected person handling food can spread the norovirus among other ways. The suit also alleges that there have been other outbreaks of the Nirovirus before this event.
Alice Hoffman and NAACP members will be present at the press conference along with other member victims.
