TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A New York doctor’s husband has filed a lawsuit claiming that his wife died of an allergic reaction after she ate at a Disney Springs restaurant.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, accuses Disney World and the restaurant where she dined of negligence, according to a complaint obtained by NBC News.
The news outlet reported that the complaint alleges that on Oct. 5, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan was served food containing allergens at Raglan Road Irish Pub despite multiple assurances that it would be allergy-safe.
A medical examiner’s autopsy report cited in the complaint showed that the 42-year-old doctor died that night of a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
According to the complaint, the couple told their server that Tangsuan had severe allergies and couldn’t consume food with allergens. The server allegedly told them that the food would be allergen-free.
NBC News reported that the couple ordered dishes named “Sure I’m Frittered,” “Scallop Forest,” “This Shepherd Went Vegan” and “Onion Rings.” The complaint said the couple asked about allergens “several more times” and were told “unequivocally” their food would be allergen-free.
The lawsuit claims that the dishes arrived without “allergen free flags,” so the couple inquired again and the answer from their server was the same.
After their meal, the party split up and Tangsuan stayed at Disney Springs to go shopping, the document said.
About 45 minutes later, the complaint said Tangsuan began having difficulty breathing and collapsed in a nearby restaurant “while suffering from a severe acute allergic reaction to the food served at Raglan.”
The document said Tangsuan used an EpiPen to stop her body’s severe allergenic response. A bystander called 911 and Tangsuan was rushed to a hospital. She later died.
According to the complaint, an autopsy found that Tangsuan had elevated levels of dairy and nuts in her system. It also said her manner of death was an accident.
NBC reported that the complaint names the restaurant and Disney Parks as defendants and seeks more than $50,000 in damages. It alleges multiple counts of negligence.
An NYU spokesperson said Tangsuan was a physician with NYU Langone Health.
“We are saddened by Dr. Tangsuan’s passing and our deepest condolences are with her family,” the spokesperson said.