Can flying seafood kill you?

taco · 02-09-2006, 04:18 AM

Jury weighs flying shrimp’s role in man’s death
Attorney for Benihana chain says airborne food was not to blame

Updated: 12:59 a.m. ET Feb. 9, 2006
MINEOLA, New York - An attorney for a chain of Japanese steakhouses on Wednesday asked a jury to question a claim that a patron's attempt to dodge a piece of flying shrimp caused an injury that led to his death.

The family of Jerry Colaitis, 47, is seeking $10 million in damages from the Benihana chain, claiming it is directly responsible for his death in 2001.

The suit claims the man wrenched his neck while ducking a piece of shrimp tossed by a chef at a local Benihana restaurant.

Five months later, Colaitis underwent surgery to relieve numbness in his arm. Five months after that, he checked into a hospital with a high fever and died. His family said the fever was a complication of the surgery, which would not have been necessary if not for the initial injury.

Benihana attorney Charles Connick suggested during his closing arguments to the jury in the civil trial that it was inappropriate to hold the restaurant at fault.

“I scratch my head and I wonder, is it conceivable to you?” Connick asked.

Chefs at the restaurant routinely toss ingredients in the air as part of a theatrical, at-your-table presentation of the meal.

Connick said there was no record of the meal demonstration injuring anyone in the past, and no evidence that the chef had purposely tossed food at diners.

“I just don't think that it makes any sense,” Connick said.

‘This man was a rock’
Wednesday afternoon, Andre Ferenzo, the family's attorney, told jurors that Colaitis was a healthy, active and vibrant individual who skied and played golf and other sports with his children before the incident on Jan. 27, 2001.

“This man was a rock,” Ferenzo said, “Benihana and only Benihana set in motion the forces ... that led to his death.”

Citing the testimony of Benihana chief chef Toro Hasagewa, Ferenzo said that chefs throwing shrimps and other items at customers “had become common” following the release in late 1990s of a Jackie Chan movie. But Hasagewa testified, he said, that it was dangerous to do that.

Ferenzo said there was no effort to stop this activity because “it was good for business.”

The jury was expected to begin deliberations on Thursday.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

sidious · 02-09-2006, 04:35 AM

fucking hell, only in America would you get a lawsuit like that, and for 10 million, it's never like 1 or 2.............i mean that's like a guy getting hit by walking out in front of a bus and getting hit and dying.............then his family sueing the bus company saying "well technically if the bus wasn't there he would have lived"..........yeah right.............Peace out...........Sid

stoned jude · 02-09-2006, 04:43 AM

thye toss broccoli stems not shrimp

falnsenseofpryde · 02-09-2006, 12:35 PM

at a place called east tokyo where i live they toss shrimp, filet mignon peices, and anything else at you. if you catch 10 in a row, your dinner is half price. i got it like twice out of 4 times ive been there. damn good food too