In a surprising move, Disney has decided to waive arbitration in a wrongful death lawsuit involving Raglan Road, a tenant restaurant at Disney Springs, Orlando. The lawsuit, filed by Jeffrey Piccolo, stems from the tragic death of his wife, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, after she suffered a fatal allergic reaction following a meal at the Irish pub in October last year.
Originally, Disney’s legal team had pushed for the case to be settled out of court. They pointed to terms included in Piccolo’s Disney+ subscription and theme park tickets purchases, which required disputes to be handled via arbitration rather than through litigation. However, in a recent statement, Disney has agreed to allow the matter to “proceed in court.”
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, expressed the company’s desire to handle the situation with compassion: “At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss.”
The tragic incident reportedly occurred despite the family’s repeated warnings about Dr. Tangsuan’s severe food allergies. According to Piccolo’s lawyers, Disney’s initial arbitration requirement was “outrageously unreasonable” and aimed to bar millions of Disney+ subscribers from pursuing wrongful death claims in court.
What are your thoughts on Disney’s decision to waive arbitration? Do you think it’s the right move given the circumstances? Share your thoughts in the comments and be part of the conversation.
Source: Erik Pedersen
