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Shocking New Evidence Could Derail Disney Lawsuit

The interior of Raglan Road restaurant
Credit: Disney

Earlier this year, Disney was named in a wrongful death lawsuit after a patron at a Disney Springs restaurant had an allergic reaction to a meal she ate there. While Disney is fighting the lawsuit, new evidence has come to light that could damage The Walt Disney Company and sink its entire case.

A blue hot air balloon with intricate swirled patterns and orange stripes ascends into a blue sky with fluffy white clouds above Disney Springs. The basket is visible below, and tall palm trees frame the scene on either side.

Credit: Disney Springs

The Case

The family of Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan is suing the Walt Disney World Resort and Raglan Road after she died at Disney Springs shortly after eating at the restaurant. According to the court documents filed by her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, Dr. Tangsuan was having dinner with him and his mother, Jackie Piccolo, at the Irish restaurant.

When the waiter arrived at their table, they asked extensive questions about the menu and food preparation, as Tangsuan suffers from a dairy and nut allergy. The waiter even asked the chef whether certain foods could be made allergen-free, and the group was assured that “allergen-free food would be served.”

Dr. Tangsuan ordered vegan shepherd’s pie, onion rings, corn fritters, and scallops, but the lawsuit noted that none of the plates had food labels that would have made the servers aware of the allergens at the table.

Busy dining room scene inside Raglan Road, where the death took place and kicked off this Disney lawsuit

Credit: Disney

After eating, Tangsuan and her mother-in-law went shopping at Disney Springs while her husband returned to the hotel. Less than an hour later, the pair separated, and Tangsuan went to Planet Hollywood. It was there that she suffered a “severe acute allergic reaction from the food served at Raglan Road.”

Tangsaun was able to administer herself epinephrine, but she was still having a severe reaction, and cast members called 911. When emergency services arrived, they were able to get her to the hospital; however, she was pronounced dead when she arrived.

Tangsuan’s cause of death was “as a result of anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system.” The family seeks damages “in excess of $50,000.00 plus costs, post-judgment interest, and further demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.”

Raglan Road

Credit: Disney

New Evidence

It turns out that Tangsaun’s husband took home a doggy bag from their meal together that night. This new piece of evidence has been in a freezer ever since and is awaiting testing as the two sides determine how to proceed with this new evidence. They could not come to a consensus and asked the judge for assistance.

The lawyer for Piccolo said: 

Although it is unknown how much food is in the sample or whether it is enough to be tested, it is in the best interest of the parties to attempt to have the food sample tested for allergens. Undersigned Counsel has attempted to confer with the parties in order to come up with a protocol for the testing of the food, but no protocol could be agreed upon. Therefore, court intervention is required.

Crowds at the Mighty St Patrick's Day Festival at Raglan Road

Credit: Raglan Road

Disney had originally attempted to settle the case through arbitration after unsuccessfully arguing that the terms of the Disney+ and My Disney Experience app did not allow for the lawsuit. After public outrage and an expose by the New York Times, Disney recanted that strategy.

The two sides await a decision on this new evidence from Orange Circuit Court Judge A. James Craner.

About Rick Lye

Rick is an avid Disney fan. He first went to Disney World in 1986 with his parents and has been hooked ever since. Rick is married to another Disney fan and is in the process of turning his two children into fans as well. When he is not creating new Disney adventures, he loves to watch the New York Yankees and hang out with his dog, Buster. In the fall, you will catch him cheering for his beloved NY Giants.

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