Disney Fights Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Allergies

A man named Jeffrey Piccolo is taking Disney to court after his wife, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, passed away from an allergic reaction triggered by a meal at a restaurant in Disney World.

The tragic incident happened in October 2023 after the couple dined at Raglan Road Irish Pub, where Piccolo claims the staff assured them the food was safe for Tangsuan, who had severe allergies to dairy and nuts.

Disney, however, is fighting back, saying Piccolo can’t sue because he agreed to terms back in 2019 when he signed up for a free trial of Disney+. These terms included a clause that says disputes must be settled in arbitration, not in court.

Piccolo’s lawsuit is asking for more than $50,000, and he argues that Disney’s claim is ridiculous. His lawyers say that just because he signed up for Disney+ doesn’t mean it covers a serious case like wrongful death.

The lawsuit claims that Raglan Road did not handle Tangsuan’s allergies properly, even after she specifically told the staff about them. Tragically, she collapsed shortly after the meal and later died in the hospital.

Disney maintains that they are not responsible since the restaurant is separately operated. They expressed their condolences but insist on resolving the matter through arbitration as per the agreement Piccolo accepted.

A Florida judge is set to hear the case in October, where Piccolo hopes to take the matter to court instead of arbitration.