In an unexpected turn of events, Disney has decided to allow a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Jeffrey Piccolo, a widower, to proceed in court. Piccolo’s late wife, Kanokporn Tangsuan, tragically died after suffering an allergic reaction from a meal at a Disney park restaurant in 2023.
Initially, Disney sought to have the lawsuit dismissed by invoking an arbitration clause from Piccolo’s Disney+ subscriber agreement. Their claim was that by subscribing to Disney+ and buying Epcot Center tickets through their website, Piccolo had agreed to resolve all disputes through arbitration, thus barring him from pursuing the matter in court.
This move prompted significant backlash, with Piccolo’s lawyer, Brian Denney, describing Disney’s stance as “preposterous” and “outrageously unreasonable.” Denney emphasized that Piccolo had believed he was only signing up for a trial and canceled it before any charges were applied.
In a statement released on Monday, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, conveyed a more compassionate approach. “At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. With such unique circumstances, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss. As such, we’ve decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court,” said D’Amaro.
Piccolo is seeking compensation in excess of $50,000 under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act. This includes damages for mental pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and various expenses incurred.
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Source: Channel3000.com
