Disney World To Be Held Responsible for Death at Restaurant

in Walt Disney World

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Credit: Inside the Magic

After days of online backlash, The Walt Disney Company has walked back its original plans to pursue arbitration in a wrongful death lawsuit. Lawyers for the Mouse previously claimed that the plaintiff had agreed to settle all disputes out of court when signing up for a free trial of Disney+ years before the tragic incident.

Dr. Kanokporn “Amy” Tangsuan and her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, visited Walt Disney World Resort in October 2023. The pair dined at Raglan Road Irish Pub, a Disney Springs restaurant not owned by The Walt Disney Company.

According to the lawsuit filed by Piccolo, Tangsuan informed the restaurant of her dairy and peanut allergies and was reassured that her food was safe to consume. About 45 minutes after dinner, the Disney Park guest collapsed while shopping around Disney Springs. She self-administered an epi-pen and was transported to a local hospital, where she tragically died.

The interior of Raglan Road restaurant
Credit: Disney

The Orlando medical examiner’s office determined that Tangsuan died accidentally of “anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction,” according to The New York Times.

In his lawsuit, Piccolo claimed Disney had “control and/or right of control” over food safety and allergy management training at Raglan Road Irish Pub, even though they didn’t own the restaurant. The widow asked for damages in excess of $50,000 and requested a trial by jury.

“Disney advertises and represents to the public that food allergies and/or the accommodation of persons with food allergies is a top priority at its parks and resorts,” the lawsuit read.

Four people sit around a wooden table in a cozy pub, laughing and enjoying drinks. Two women and two men are present, with one man in the middle of an animated gesture. As they chat, the conversation briefly turns to the recent Disney World death that had fans out of parks, casting a somber note over the lively scene.
Credit: Disney

The Walt Disney Company initially claimed that Piccolo and Tansuan waived their rights to a court battle years prior when they signed up for a free trial of Disney+. Additionally, lawyers argued that they signed another agreement when purchasing Disney Park tickets. The “fine print” terms and conditions for both Disney accounts state that users will settle any legal disputes via arbitration.

The argument garnered widespread backlash online, where users accused Disney of claiming that they could “kill” any guest who signed up for a free Disney+ trial.

Motherfuckers tryna kill me no thanks

The Walt Disney Company initially issued the following response:

“We are deeply saddened by the family’s loss and understand their grief. Given that this restaurant is neither owned nor operated by Disney, we are merely defending ourselves against the plaintiff’s attorney’s attempt to include us in their lawsuit against the restaurant.”

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

However, the House of Mouse changed its tune on Monday evening and agreed to let the jury trial proceed, waiving its arbitration claim. Theme park and entertainment reporter Scott Gustin shared the following statement from Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro:

NEW: In a new statement about the Raglan Road wrongful death lawsuit, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro says Disney will waive its right to arbitration and will allow the matter to proceed in court to “expedite a resolution for the family.” Full statement:

“At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations,” D’Amaro wrote. “With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss. As such, we’ve decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed to court.”

It’s unclear when the jury trial will begin. Follow Inside the Magic for updates on the wrongful death lawsuit against Disney.

Should Disney be held responsible for the death at Raglan Road Irish Pub? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments.

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