A man is suing Disney and Raglan Road over his wife’s death due to anaphylaxis after a meal at the Disney Springs restaurant.

Raglan Road Death

Kanokporn Tangsuan was a doctor at NYU Langone in New York City. She visited Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at about 8 p.m. on October 5, 2023, with her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, and his mother, Jackie.

Tangsuan had severe allergies to dairy and nuts. She and Piccolo told the waiter about the allergies and questioned them about menu items. The waiter left to ask the chef if certain items could be made allergen-free, then returned to the table to confirm they could. Tangsuan and Piccolo questioned the waiter several more times to be sure the food would be safe and the waiter “unequivocally assured” them the food would be allergen-free.

Tangsuan ordered and ate the “Sure I’m Frittered” vegetarian broccoli and corn fritters, “Scallop Forest” sea scallops appetizer, “This Shepherd Went Vegan” entree, and a side of onion rings.

After the meal, Jeffrey Piccolo returned to their hotel room, while Jackie Piccolo and Tangsuan continued shopping at Disney Springs. Jackie and Tangsuan separated. At approximately 8:45 p.m., Tangsuan entered Planet Hollywood suffering from an acute allergic reaction. She had difficulty breathing and collapsed on the floor. She self-administered an EpiPen. 911 was called at approximately 8:46 p.m. Tangsuan was transported to a local hospital.

Jackie Piccolo attempted to call Tangsuan multiple times. She returned to the hotel room, meeting back up with Jeffrey Piccolo, and called Tangsuan’s phone again. This time, someone answered and advised them to get to the hospital right away.

The Piccolos rushed to the hospital and, after waiting there for some time, learned Tangsuan had died. The medical examiner’s investigation determined her cause of death was anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system.

Jeffrey Piccolo filed a lawsuit against Great Irish Pubs Florida Inc., the owners of Raglan Road, and Disney Parks and Resorts in Orange County last week.

The lawsuit states that Raglan Road and Disney “owed a duty of care to its invitees/guests to ensure that food that was designated as allergen free and/or food that was requested to be prepared allergen free, was in fact free from allergens that would cause death or serious physical harm to guests with food allergies,” such as Tangsuan. It alleges Raglan Road failed to educate, train, or instruct its employees on how to prepare food in response to allergy requests.

Disney does not own or operate Raglan Road but the lawsuit does note that they “had control and/or right of control over the menu of food offered, the hiring and/or training of the wait staff, and the policies and procedures as it pertains to food allergies at DISNEY SPRINGS restaurants, such as RAGLAN ROAD.”

The lawsuit states that Disney “advertises and represents to the public that food allergies and/or the accommodation of persons with food allergies is a top priority at its parks and resorts, including DISNEY SPRINGS and that patrons/guests may consult with a chef or special diets trained Cast Member before placing an order, and at all times material, Plaintiff relied upon these representations in selecting DISNEY SPRINGS/RAGLAN ROAD for dinner.”

The Walt Disney World website includes this disclaimer on the bottom of menu pages, including the Raglan Road dinner menu:

Guests must speak to a cast member about their allergy-friendly request. While we take steps to help mitigate cross-contact, we cannot guarantee that any item is completely free of allergens. Our allergy-friendly recipes may use highly refined oils, such as soybean oil, and/or ingredients that are processed in facilities that also process allergens. It is ultimately our Guests’ discretion to make an informed choice based upon their individual dietary needs. For more information about allergy-friendly requests, ask to speak with a Special Diets Trained Cast Member upon arrival at the location.

Piccolo is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 under the Florida Wrongful Death Act. The lawsuit lists mental pain and suffering, funeral expenses, medical expenses, and loss of income, among other damages.

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