Disney’s reputation for magic and fun might have just taken a bit of a nosedive with its recent legal debacle: a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the husband of a doctor who died following a meal at an Irish restaurant at Disney Springs.
But hold on, it gets even stranger. Initially, Disney tried to dodge the whole situation by waving around some fine print from its Disney+ subscription terms. They claimed that the widower had unknowingly agreed to resolve any disputes through arbitration rather than in court. As the case further unfolded, it saw a strange turn.
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In a statement shared with NBC News, the company announced that they would waive their right to arbitration and allow the case to proceed in court. “At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences.
“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,” he added.
Jeffrey Piccolo’s wife, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, passed away after consuming food containing allergens at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, a tenant at Disney Springs. Despite repeated assurances from the restaurant staff that her food allergies would be accommodated, Tangsuan suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction and died shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
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Disney’s Legal Roller Coaster
Jeffrey Piccolo’s legal battle against Disney and the restaurant initially hit a wall when the lawyers of the production house, armed with their arbitration clause, sought to have the case dismissed. They argued that when Piccolo signed up for a Disney+ free trial and bought park tickets, he also unknowingly agreed to handle any disputes through arbitration.
Brian Denney, Piccolo’s attorney, didn’t hold back, calling Disney’s move “preposterous” and pushing back hard against the dismissal attempt. Denney told NBC News that his client would continue to seek justice for his late wife in court.
Denney also criticized their reliance on arbitration clauses. They stated, “The right to a jury trial as set forth in the Seventh Amendment is a bedrock of our judicial system and should be protected and preserved. Attempts by corporations like Disney to avoid jury trials should be looked at with skepticism.”
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