Disney World guests file lawsuit after allegedly eating bug-infested food

[KBLovedDisney]

How do you not look at the food first, I mean those were a ton of little bugs, I inspect my food every time I eat, even my own food!

That's what I'm talking about! How could you not look?

 

[Horizons '83]

That's what I'm talking about! How could you not look?

Also, i'm not sure what those bugs were, but I can't tell you how many bugs we probably eat unknowinging, obviously not in that quantity but I'm not buying this story and the courts won't either.

 

[Horizons '83]

In a sunny day it might be hard. Just saying.

These pics were taken inside though in shade

 

[Cesar R M]

Gawd, even so though, why would you not look at it before you eat it? Bleh Bleh Bleh

indeed.. What is baffling is they made their own letucce wraps.. how the hell you assemble those things and not notice the bugs?
unless they were way smaller ones than in the picture.

These pics were taken inside though in shade

Yes. I was just stating a possibility.

 

[EricPZ]

• The family realizes the issue while sitting at the table enough to take a photograph, but never alerts anyone, so Disney is unaware of the problem until the suit is filed (highly unlikely). If Disney were made aware at the time of occurrence they would have had the chance to investigate immediately and address. If that happened, they wouldn’t fight a $15k suit because they’d be aware of their culpability. More likely they’d bend over backwards to avoid this situation from ever seeing light

This is key...I don't think there's a restaurant (that doesn't have a drive-thru window) that wouldn't fall over themselves to put things right if a customer brings something like this to their attention.

 

[LAKid53]

I couldn’t not reply to this thread. So, first, I’m definitely not a Disney-defender given the unwanted changes (IMO) they’ve made to my beloved parks, but let’s examine two scenarios to see which is more realistic. I’m not saying these are the only two possible scenarios or even that one is more true than the other, but let’s look at them anyway:

Scenario 1

• Disney’s staff is negligent and does not properly clean and/or inspect their food when putting it out on the buffet (possible)
• A family helps themselves to the bug infested load of lettuce without noticing any of the bugs… not one family member, or any other patron for that matter (not likely)
• The family consumes numerous wraps, presumably putting the food in their own mouths, never once seeing anything from a couple inches away that all of us can see from over a foot or two away from the camera lens (not likely)
• Not one other patron (outside this family) complains about bugs in THEIR food. This is an isolated incident affecting the food of only one family… from a buffet, yet effects all four, and no one else (highly unlikely)
• The family realizes the issue while sitting at the table enough to take a photograph, but never alerts anyone, so Disney is unaware of the problem until the suit is filed (highly unlikely). If Disney were made aware at the time of occurrence they would have had the chance to investigate immediately and address. If that happened, they wouldn’t fight a $15k suit because they’d be aware of their culpability. More likely they’d bend over backwards to avoid this situation from ever seeing light
• The family gets violently ill making several trips via ambulance to the ER, and keeps getting discharged despite numerous visits (unlikely)
• The family is so distraught from their ordeal, and overwhelmed by the financial burden of the medical attention required sues for financial relief… after staying in the bank-breaking Disney Polynesian (possible, I guess. Not sure why they’d be staying at the Polynesian if their medical costs would be so cash-strapping)

Scenario 2

• Parents visiting a Disney resort think to themselves that it’d be nice to have Disney foot the bill for some of their extravagant vacation, even if it’s just a few thousand (haven’t we all dreamed of an all-expenses-paid trip to WDW?)
• One comes up with an ill-advised and thoughtless scheme after seeing a bunch of bugs outside munching on a piece of lettuce in the landscape (possible, although I’m sure attentive Disney staff would’ve cleared the landscape, fumigated, and apologized to all nearby families for the inconvenience and give out FP)
• They eat their food, one goes back outside to that piece of lettuce and brings it in, they take the picture at the table and say nothing to the staff (possible. Why alert the on-site staff of the issue if your goal is a lawsuit)
• They get back home, and still thinking this is a good idea contact an unsuspecting attorney with photographic evidence against the giant, cash-rich Disney company for some quick money. I’m sure given the amount requested they figure Disney would definitely settle giving them free money (possible, especially if the attorney is a friend or family). During planning they probably thought the lawsuit would be for millions, but their attorney tells them it will look like a money-grab and certain loss, and advises against it

I don't know.... what do you all think?

Very good points. Those pictures show bugs crawling all over the lettuce. Which means OTHER guests would have served themselves contaminated food. And we all know bugs aren't going to confine themselves to just one spot of tastey food.

Yet no mention of anything in all the media and blogs until this lawsuit is filed?

And what bothers me the most is that these 4 adults were present enough to take photos BUT NEVER informed staff that some of the offerings on the buffet were crawling with bugs. If I pulled a creepy crawler out of my mouth and saw the remaining food on my plate was being enjoyed by its friends, I'd make a beeline to staff and report it. There is always a CM or 2 around.

Sorry, I must call bogus on this one.

 

[LAKid53]

$15K doesn't sound like a lot for a 90-page lawsuit.

That's the statutory minimum for cases like this, IIRC.

 

[LAKid53]

Same here! It would probably make me paranoid and I would make myself crazy inspecting all my food for the whole trip. But what I don't understand is why they would notice the bugs, THEN EAT THEM?

The little bugs are aphids...which are common and not poisonous. It means, however, that the lettuce was not properly rinsed or inspected.

Which can...and has...caused food poisoning.

 

[John park hopper]

Most people would be shocked to know what the FDA allows in food --bug parts, rodent droppings, mold etc.

 

[LAKid53]

Yeah, I was sued once involving a car accident.. The suit stated the person had "permanent damage to a major bodily organ". I asked my lawyer what exactly they were talking about. He said that skin is an organ, they got scraped, it's going to leave a scar, that's permanent damage.

Your lawyer was correct. And skin is the largest organ.

 

[Monty]

I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to serve yourself at a buffet without looking at said buffet.

 

[LAKid53]

I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to serve yourself at a buffet without looking at said buffet.

And why would you not inform the CM at the buffet that there's something crawling all over your lettuce? We've seen guests have a nuclear meltdown over waiting 31 minutes in standby.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

There are just too many holes in their story, one piece of lettuce is covered in bugs, none on the rest of the lettuce in the plate, they made wraps but did not notice the bugs while making the wraps, they took photos but did not notify a manager? No one else that was eating there got bugs or got sick but all four of them did? They got food poisoning from bugs? They had to be transported by ambulance for food poisoning? After being transported by ambulance they still didn't notify management? There are just too many whys to make this story believeable.

 

[GoofGoof]

I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to serve yourself at a buffet without looking at said buffet.

I’ve done it in Vegas but that was after 36 hours straight of gambling and drinking . It wasn’t that I didn’t look at the buffet I just couldn’t see anymore . Of course I had so much beer and tequila in my stomach it would have drowned even the heartiest of bugs. I had such a big hangover I thought about suing myself for pain and suffering but I went with a little hair of the dog instead. Good times. I think I need to book another trip to Vegas soon.

 

[GoofGoof]

Very good points. Those pictures show bugs crawling all over the lettuce. Which means OTHER guests would have served themselves contaminated food. And we all know bugs aren't going to confine themselves to just one spot of tastey food.

Yet no mention of anything in all the media and blogs until this lawsuit is filed?

And what bothers me the most is that these 4 adults were present enough to take photos BUT NEVER informed staff that some of the offerings on the buffet were crawling with bugs. If I pulled a creepy crawler out of my mouth and saw the remaining food on my plate was being enjoyed by its friends, I'd make a beeline to staff and report it. There is always a CM or 2 around.

Sorry, I must call bogus on this one.

Yep, if nobody else got sick there’s no way they can even prove their sickness came from Poly. This is a simple money grab where they hope Disney thinks the $15K is a better deal than a PR hit.

 

[EricPZ]

I’ve done it in Vegas but that was after 36 hours straight of gambling and drinking . It wasn’t that I didn’t look at the buffet I just couldn’t see anymore . Of course I had so much beer and tequila in my stomach it would have drowned even the heartiest of bugs. I had such a big hangover I thought about suing myself for pain and suffering but I went with a little hair of the dog instead. Good times. I think I need to book another trip to Vegas soon.

Heading there with the Mrs. on Monday...hope our trip is as successful as yours sounds.

 

[NCO91590]

Which can...and has...caused food poisoning.

Oh agreed. Lettuces are very susceptible to E-Coli, Lysteria and other bacteria which is why it's very important to wash it thoroughly. What I'm saying is that the aphid is not going to make a person sick. Other bacteria on the lettuce might...but that's not being brought up in the lawsuit.

 

[Raineman]

Yeah, I was sued once involving a car accident.. The suit stated the person had "permanent damage to a major bodily organ". I asked my lawyer what exactly they were talking about. He said that skin is an organ, they got scraped, it's going to leave a scar, that's permanent damage.

I was in a car accident about 7 years ago, lost consciousness while driving, hit a vehicle with 2 people in it. After we got out of our vehicles, we both asked each other if everyone was OK-they said they were fine, no issues, I had some pain in my left side. I was the only one who took an ambulance from the scene-and 2 years later, they sue my insurance company for $1.1 million in damages, citing irreparable physical injuries, unable to work, etc. They saw an opportunity to rake in some $$, and they took it. Our legal systems in North America are in desperate need of repair.

 

[LAKid53]

Most people would be shocked to know what the FDA allows in food --bug parts, rodent droppings, mold etc.

One of my co-workers was a former inspector for the county health department. We knew which eateries to not patronize.

 

[Phonedave]

I was in a car accident about 7 years ago, lost consciousness while driving, hit a vehicle with 2 people in it. After we got out of our vehicles, we both asked each other if everyone was OK-they said they were fine, no issues, I had some pain in my left side. I was the only one who took an ambulance from the scene-and 2 years later, they sue my insurance company for $1.1 million in damages, citing irreparable physical injuries, unable to work, etc. They saw an opportunity to rake in some $$, and they took it. Our legal systems in North America are in desperate need of repair.

Very much so. I was initially sued for 1 million, at the end they settled for $20,000