New York doctor died after dining at Disney restaurant, lawsuit claims

Jeffrey Piccolo, doctor's husbandKanokporn Tangsuan, who died in 2023 due to an allergic reaction after dining at arestaurant at Disney Springs, near Orlando, Florida, presented anegligence lawsuit and requested damages in excess of $50,000.

The widower filed the document in the circuit court of Orange County, Florida, seeking compensation for mental pain and suffering, lost income and funeral expenses, under the state's wrongful death law.

Smallaccuses Walt Disney Parks and Resorts of negligence because his wife, a prestigious doctor at the NYU Langone hospital in Manhattan, clarified to the staff of theRaglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant who had a severe allergy to nuts and dairy.

According to the 19-page document, on October 5, upon Tangsuan's insistence that the food be ensured that the food was free of allergens, the restaurant staff claimed to be able to prepare the requested meal.

After having dinner of broccoli and fried corn, scallops and onion rings, while the doctor was walking through the Disney Springs shopping center, she began to present symptoms,the newspaper reportedNew York Post.

The lawsuit states that the girl entered Planet Hollywood, where she experienced severe breathing difficulties and fainted, and although she was immediately given an injection of epinephrine, she died at a local hospital.

The coroner's investigation revealed that Tangsuan died as a result of anaphylaxis caused by "elevated levels of dairy and nuts in his system."

Disney announces and makes clear to the public that food allergies and/or accommodation of people with this type of condition are a "top priority" in its parks and resorts, as explained in court documents.

The lawsuit alleges that Disneyand"failed to educate, train and/or instruct its employees" to "ensure that foods indicated as allergen-free or requested to be allergen-free were in fact allergen-free."

In addition, it maintains that the company had "no control over the food menu offered, the hiring and/or training of front of house staff, and the policies and procedures regarding food allergies in Disney Springs restaurants."

Irish partners John Cooke and Paul Nolan own and operate the Raglan Road restaurant, not Disney. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.