The plaintiff in the case of an allergy-related death at the Disney Springs pub has motioned to drop his lawsuit against Disney over claims of negligence.
Lawsuit Dismissed
Jeffrey Piccolo, the widower of Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, a Carle Place family medicine physician, has agreed to voluntarily dismiss his wrongful death lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs in Florida.
A court filing from February 27 indicates Piccolo and his attorneys have filed to withdraw the case, a move that often signals a private settlement. No agreement has been publicly confirmed as of the time of writing.
The lawsuit stemmed from an October 5, 2023, dinner at Raglan Road. According to the complaint, the pub’s staff assured the family multiple times that Tangsuan’s meal — which included a broccoli and corn fritter, scallops, onion rings, and vegan shepherd’s pie — was allergen-free, even after some dishes allegedly arrived without allergen markers. Tangsuan had documented peanut and dairy allergies, which were reportedly told to the servers repeatedly.
After dinner, Tangsuan experienced breathing difficulties while shopping. She eventually self-administered an EpiPen, but was later pronounced dead at a hospital. A medical examiner determined she died of anaphylaxis caused by elevated levels of dairy and nuts.
Filed in February 2024, the suit accused Disney and the pub of negligence and sought damages exceeding $50,000 under Florida’s wrongful death statute for mental anguish, loss of companionship and income, and medical and funeral expenses.
The End of a Nationally Criticized Civil Suit
Infamously, the case drew national attention when Disney initially sought to compel arbitration based on terms Piccolo had agreed to during a prior Disney+ trial subscription. Following public scrutiny, the company withdrew that effort and allowed the case to proceed in court.
During litigation, Piccolo’s attorneys requested extensive documentation regarding the meal’s ingredients and preparation. Leftovers from Tangsuan’s final meal, preserved by Piccolo, were independently tested for allergens, though the results were not publicly disclosed. Disney sought to keep those findings confidential, a move contested by Piccolo’s counsel, who also alleged discovery violations by the restaurant and cited prior incidents in which other customers reportedly received meals containing allergens despite disclosing allergies.
Late last year, canceled depositions signaled that settlement discussions might have been underway before the case was ultimately dismissed.
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