On Monday, Disney withdrew its legal argument that a man’s 2019 Disney+ subscription meant he could not sue the company for his wife’s wrongful death — which reportedly occurred when she had an allergic reaction to food from a Disney World restaurant.
Kanokporn Tangsuan, a family medicine specialist from New York, allegedly disclosed to Raglan Road staff that she had a severe dairy and nut allergy. The New York Times reported that she died after eating food at the restaurant which her server claimed was allergen-free.
WESH reported that Tangusan split up from the group after dinner to go shopping. Shortly thereafter, she had difficulty breathing and collapsed. Though she administered an Epipen, she was rushed to the hospital and died.
The late doctor’s husband, Jeffery Piccolo filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney in February. Disney initially claimed Piccolo could not sue them because Disney+ subscription’s terms and conditions stipulated that an outside arbitrator would settle legal disputes. WESH reported that Piccolo signed up for the streaming service in 2019 — years before his wife died in October 2023.
The company also noted that Raglan Road, an Irish pub located in the Disney Springs area of its Orlando, Florida, resort, is independently owned and operated, according to The New York Times.
Amid backlash, Disney has since reversed its argument that Piccolo must go through arbitration. Piccolo’s attorneys had noted that their client had only signed up for a free month of Disney+ and had ended the subscription before he was charged.
“At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. 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,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro told CNN. “As such, we’ve decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court.”
Piccolo is seeking at least $50,000 for Tangusan’s death, citing mental anguish, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.
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[Feature Photo: Facebook]
