ORLANDO, FL – A lawsuit implicating both Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant has been filed by a man after his wife, a New York-based doctor, suffered a fatal allergic reaction after dining at the venue. The lawsuit accuses the staff of negligence, despite being fully informed of the woman’s serious food allergies.
According to the legal documents, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, her husband Jeffrey Piccolo, and Piccolo’s mother opted to have their meal at the Raglan Road Irish Pub in Disney Springs within the Walt Disney World resort in October 2023. They believed that the restaurant was equipped to handle Tangsuan’s allergy to dairy and nuts appropriately, as stated in the lawsuit.
The waiter ensured the couple multiple times that their chosen food items could be made allergen-free. This confirmation was noted in the lawsuit filed on February 22 in Orange County, Florida. The chosen menu items included a vegan fritter, scallops, onion rings, and a vegan shepherd’s pie.
Some of the delivered dishes were lacking the expected allergen-free flags, yet the waiter assured the couple that the food was safe for consumption, the lawsuit alleges.
After her meal, Tangsuan visited the shopping area of Disney Springs where she experienced a violent allergic reaction while at Planet Hollywood, the lawsuit reports.
Despite using an Epi-Pen, Tangsuan succumbed to “anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system,” as confirmed by a medical examiner’s investigation, according to the lawsuit.
Tangsuan’s attorney, Brian Denney, stated that the lawsuit was filed in part as an effort “to prevent a tragedy like this from happening to another family.”
The lawsuit argues that Raglan Road was at fault for not sufficiently training its staff and failing to warn Tangsuan about potential allergens in her food. Disney Parks and Resorts are also alleged to have been negligent in their oversight of restaurant policies at Disney Springs.
Pursuant to Florida’s Wrongful Death Act, Piccolo is seeking damages worth over $50,000 along with claims for mental anguish, loss of companionship and protection, loss of income, and medical and funeral expenses.