Walt Disney Co. has recently shifted its stance, deciding to allow a wrongful-death lawsuit to proceed in court after initially insisting on arbitration. This change comes after Jeffrey Piccolo filed a lawsuit in February, claiming that his wife, Kanokporn Tangsuan, died from a severe allergic reaction after dining at a Walt Disney World restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
During their visit to the Raglan Road restaurant at Disney Springs in October 2023, Piccolo and his wife had repeatedly asked the staff if the food contained dairy or nuts, to which they were assured it did not. Tragically, less than an hour after the meal, Tangsuan experienced difficulty breathing and eventually collapsed. She was transported to a hospital, where she later passed away. The medical examiner confirmed her death was due to “anaphylaxis caused by elevated levels of dairy and nuts.”
Disney initially sought to dismiss the lawsuit, citing arbitration clauses Piccolo agreed to when signing up for Disney+ in 2019 and when purchasing Walt Disney World tickets. However, Piccolo’s attorneys argued that Tangsuan’s estate, which did not exist at the ticket purchase time, had not agreed to these terms. In response, Disney Experiences Chair Josh D’Amaro stated that due to the sensitive nature of the case, Disney decided to waive arbitration and proceed in court.
A court hearing set for October 2 to address Disney’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit has been canceled. Piccolo’s attorney, Brian Denney, expressed confidence that his client would “continue to pursue justice” and that the broader exposure of the case might lead to better corporate food preparation policies.
Piccolo seeks at least $50,000 in damages, not including costs and post-judgment interest. What are your thoughts on Disney’s decision to proceed in court? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know how you feel about this case.
Source: Samantha Masunaga
