Yum! says it won't be liable in some E. coli suits

LOUISVILLE Ky. Yum! Brands Inc. and its Taco Bell Corp. subsidiary won't be liable for losses in some of the 11 lawsuits filed over an E. coli outbreak in November and December because the restaurants named in at least five of the complaints are not owned by the franchisor, Yum predicted Wednesday in its annual report to securities regulators.

The 11 suits that Yum disclosed had been filed stem from infections contracted in four Eastern states by 71 Taco Bell customers. Health authorities concluded that lettuce tainted during growing, harvesting or processing was the probable source of the illnesses. About 77 percent of the nearly 5,600 U.S. Taco Bells are owned by franchisees.