ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. – Attorneys have reportedly filed three lawsuits against LongHorn Steakhouse following a bacterial illness outbreak linked to one of its Metro East restaurants. Health officials say dozens have been sickened.

The lawsuits, announced on Monday, were filed by attorney Jory Lange of The Lange Law Firm, PLLC, according to a news release .

Last week, the St. Clair County Health Department noted it was investigating a spike in Shigellosis cases linked to a LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant in Fairview Heights. Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by Shigella bacteria, and health experts say that eating contaminated food is a common source of infection.

Health officials in St. Clair County said there were 14 positive patients last week , including 12 who had recently dined at the LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant, located at 6115 North Illinois Street.

Officials say that 23 additional people have reported illnesses consistent with Shigellosis since dining at the restaurant around the same time frame. The department adds that at least six patients have been hospitalized.

Health officials say that restaurant representatives have been cooperating amid the investigation. The restaurant voluntarily closed on Oct. 2 following the department’s first advisory of the illness. Investigators have not yet determined the source of the rise in Shigellosis cases. It’s believed the cases spiked some time between Sept. 14 and Oct. 1, according to the health department.

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The Lange Law Firm says more than 30 people have sought help to get compensation from LongHorn Steakhouse and anticipate there could be more cases.

“The scary thing about this outbreak is, as a consumer, there’s nothing you can do to tell whether the food that you are buying is safe,” said attorney Jory Lange via a news release . “You can’t taste, smell, or see Shigella. Food that is contaminated with Shigella may look, smell, and taste just like any other food. This is why it’s critical that restaurants who make and sell our food, ensure the food is safe before they sell it.”

The lawsuits could help patients get compensation for medical bills and lost wages, per the news release.

FOX 2 has attempted to contact the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office for information on the reported lawsuits. Requests for comment and clarification have gone unanswered.

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know has dined at the Longhorn Steakhouse location mentioned above between Sept. 21 through Oct. 2, click here to fill out a survey , regardless if there was an illness or not. This form is helping the St. Clair County Health Department investigate what caused the illness.

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