William "Bill" Marler (born c. May 3, 1957) is an American personal injury lawyer specializing in cases involving foodborne illnesses. He is the managing partner of Marler Clark, a law firm based in Seattle, Washington, that focuses on food safety litigation.

Early life and education

Marler earned his undergraduate degree from Washington State University and later received his Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law.

Legal Career and Foodborne Illness Litigation

In 1993, Marler represented 9-year-old Brianne Kiner, who was affected by an Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Jack in the Box. The case resulted in a $15.6 million settlement, one of the largest settlements in a foodborne illness case at the time. Since then, Marler has focused his practice on representing victims of foodborne illnesses, including cases involving Salmonella, E. coli, and Hepatitis A. He has litigated against companies such as Chili's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dole, and ConAgra.

Advocacy and Public Engagement

Marler is active in advocating for stricter food safety regulations and regularly speaks to industry groups and public health organizations. He has provided testimony before both the California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee and the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He also serves as a speaker on foodborne illness litigation and safety issues at public health conferences and food industry events. Marler is affiliated with OutBreak, a nonprofit organization associated with Marler Clark that promotes food safety education.

Media and Publications

Marler’s involvement in the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak is detailed in Jeff Benedict’s book Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat. The book was adapted into the documentary Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food, directed by Stephanie Soechtig, which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and was released on Netflix in August 2023. In 2009, Marler founded Food Safety News, a website dedicated to food safety journalism. He also contributes regularly to the Food Poison Journal.

Recognitions and Awards

Marler has received numerous awards for his work in food safety, including the Public Justice Award from the Washington State Trial Lawyer's Association and the Seattle University Distinguished Law Graduate Award. The Daily Meal named him one of "America's 50 Most Powerful People in Food for 2016". His blog has been listed among the top 100 legal blogs by the American Bar Association, and The New Yorker referred to him as "the most prominent and powerful food-safety attorney in the country."

Selected Publications