IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- An Iowa woman sickened for weeks after eating tainted sprouts has filed a lawsuit accusing sandwich chain Jimmy John's of serving unsafe food.

Heather Tuttle filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Des Moines seeking damages for pain and suffering.

Tuttle was diagnosed with E. coli poisoning after eating a turkey sandwich from Jimmy John's in West Des Moines last month. Her lawsuit describes weeks of excruciating cramps and diarrhea that required medical treatment.

Tuttle is one of 12 patients whose recent illnesses have been linked to raw sprouts from Jimmy John's. The lawsuit says it is the fifth outbreak since 2008 involving sprouts and Jimmy John's, which had no immediate comment.

A spokesman for lawyers representing Tuttle says her lawsuit is the first in the outbreak, but they have other clients.