"food lawsuit" news and stories

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.