What Happened To Disney? Wrongful Death Lawsuit Explained

As a conscientious consumer who has lost a loved one due to what seems like negligence, I find myself deeply troubled by Disney‘s current legal predicament. Having grown up enchanted by Disney’s magical world, it saddens me that the same company, which once brought joy and wonder, is now embroiled in a lawsuit over a preventable tragedy.


A lawsuit alleging wrongful death was initiated against Disney by a grieving husband in February this year. This follows the unfortunate passing of his wife who had visited a Disney World restaurant back in October 2023. Naturally, many are eager to learn more about Disney’s recent legal predicament.

Let’s take a look at the details and why exactly Disney is facing this lawsuit.

Why is Disney facing a wrongful death lawsuit?

Jeffrey Piccolo has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney, as his wife passed away due to an allergic reaction following a meal at Disney Springs’ restaurant.

In October 2023, Piccolo traveled with his family to Disney Springs, which is part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Accompanying him were his wife, Kanokporn Tangsuan, who was a 42-year-old doctor from New York, and his mother. Unfortunately, shortly after dining at Raglan Road, a restaurant located within Disney Springs, Kanokporn suffered a fatal allergic reaction and passed away.

Based on Piccolo’s statement, the restaurant ignored Tangsuan’s dairy and nut allergies. Consequently, in February 2024, he took legal action against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. As reported by BBC News, he demanded more than $50,000 in compensation and court fees. However, Disney allegedly asserts that subscribing to their Disney+ streaming service prevents individuals from filing lawsuits.

As a die-hard fan, I’d say it seems Jeffrey Piccolo allegedly thought he was just getting a complimentary trial of Disney+ and had cancelled his subscription before being billed. However, Disney appears to have a contrasting perspective. They argue that during the sign-up process, users agreed to resolve any disagreements with the company through arbitration, which essentially means no disputes can be brought before a court.

As a gamer, I want to clarify something: Although Disney expressed sympathy for the family’s loss, they made it clear that the restaurant in question isn’t under their ownership or management. This is essentially them distancing themselves from a legal dispute initiated by the plaintiff’s attorney, trying to involve Disney in their lawsuit against the restaurant.

As reported by Time Magazine, John Davisson, who holds the position of litigation director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, weighed in on the issue. He expressed that consumers are generally given a contract with non-negotiable terms, essentially offering them a binary choice – either accept or decline. This incident serves as a reminder to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions before agreeing to use a service.

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2024-08-17 05:10