"benihana" news and stories

Japanese restaurant Benihana is the subject of a multimillion dollar lawsuit. This time around it has nothing to do with whether a customer injured himself trying to duck from a flying shrimp.

The suit, filed late last month, doesn't involve Benihana's customers at all. Rather, founder Rocky Aoki is suing four of his six children. Aoki claims that his children are squandering a $50 million trust, which he established for himself. The founder of the flashy teppanyaki chain seeks to have his children resign from Benihana of Tokyo, citing mismanagement. The kids, however, claim that Aoki has been duped by his third wife Keiko Ono, a former Miss Tokyo, who wants to get her hands on their inheritance.

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Add another one to our list of frivolous food lawsuits. In 2001, a New York man, Jerry Colaitis, injured his neck while ducking a flying shrimp in a Benihana Japanese restaurant. The injury, according to his widow, caused him to wrench his neck such that he needed surgery. Complications arising from the surgery led to infection and the man's death. His widow attempted to sue Benihana for $10 million dollars. The restaurant's position was that the man was trying to catch a shrimp in his mouth, as the chefs at Benihana restaurants are known for their flamboyant knife and spatula work, including tossing food into the air. It is likely that the man knew the nature of the restaurant when he opted to visit it and, said the company's attorney, it is unlikely that a chef who works for tips would continue to toss food at a customer if asked to stop. This week, a jury ruled that the restaurant was not liable for the death of Jerry Colaitis.