Disney says the plaintiff waived his right to sue by agreeing to arbitration when he signed up for Disney+|Wally Gobetz|CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The Walt Disney Company is contesting a lawsuit by Jeffrey Piccolo, husband of Dr. Amy Tangsuan, who alleges his wife died from an allergic reaction after eating at a Disney World restaurant in October 2023.
Disney argues that Piccolo waived his right to sue by agreeing to arbitration when he signed up for Disney+ and bought Epcot tickets. The company also asserts that the restaurant is not Disney-owned but independently operated.
Arbitration is a legal process involving third-party mediators to solve disagreements instead of taking them to court.
Piccolo claims that Tangsuan, who had severe dairy and nut allergies, was assured by the staff that her food was allergen-free. He accuses Disney of misleading them and is seeking $50,000 in damages.
Piccolo’s lawyers criticize Disney’s defense as an attempt to evade accountability.
A Florida judge will decide in October whether the case stays in court or moves to arbitration.