Florida Mother’s Lawsuit Dismissed in Controversial Raw Milk Case Tied to Pregnancy Tragedy

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Legal proceedings involving a Central Florida dairy farm have concluded with the dismissal of a case filed by a woman who alleged the loss of her child. This information comes from court documents reviewed by News 6.

The plaintiff, Rachel Maddox from Seminole County, claimed in the lawsuit that she bought raw milk at a Longwood store in June 2025 while expecting a child. The milk originated from Keely Farms Dairy, located in New Smyrna Beach.

The lawsuit detailed that when Maddox noticed the raw milk was labeled as “for consumption by animals,” she was informed this labeling was a legal formality required for selling “farm milk.” She did not pursue further clarification at the time.

According to the lawsuit, Maddox and her husband then gave the raw milk to their toddler, who subsequently suffered from diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and additional symptoms, leading to hospitalization.

[BELOW: News 6 interviews a Florida mother involved in a lawsuit against a dairy farm over raw milk-related illness]

Tests soon came back positive for Campylobacter — a type of bacteria that commonly causes foodborne illness — which Maddox was told she contracted while caring for her toddler.

“I contracted the bacteria from cleaning up the diarrhea and vomiting,” Maddox told News 6 last year. “As a mom, you get a lot of stuff on you when your kid is sick, and I became ill by contracting the bacteria that way.”

Soon after, Maddox’s fetus died, and she was diagnosed with sepsis, court records show.

“I became very ill — and I mean the sickest I’ve ever been in my life,” Maddox said. “I came really close to dying, and our (unborn) son did die. The doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive.”

[BELOW: Volusia County farm tied to raw milk E. Coli outbreak]

While investigating the case, News 6 discovered that Keely Farms Dairy had been tied to at least 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter sickness from raw milk. Six of the 21 patients were children under the age of 10, seven patients were hospitalized, and at least two cases resulted in severe complications, state officials warned.

In the original lawsuit, Maddox accused the dairy farm of negligence and liability for what happened.

However, new court records filed on Friday afternoon reveal that she has voluntarily dismissed the case. No information was provided about why that was the case.

You can read the original lawsuit below: