The wrongful death lawsuit following the tragic passing of Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan at Walt Disney World Resort has taken a new turn as her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, continues to seek justice.
In October 2023, Tangsuan, a 42-year-old medical doctor from NYU Langone in New York City, was in Florida for a conference and spent time at Disney Springs with her husband and mother-in-law, Jackie Piccolo. The night ended in tragedy after she suffered an acute anaphylactic reaction following a meal at Raglan Road Irish Pub, a third-party restaurant at Disney Springs.
According to the lawsuit filed by Mr. Piccolo, his wife had severe allergies to dairy and nuts and took careful steps to ensure her meal was safe. She asked a restaurant server what dishes were safe for her to eat, receiving multiple confirmations before being served, court documents state. Her meal reportedly included vegan shepherd’s pie and corn fritters, some of which arrived with allergy flags while others did not.
After dining, Tangsuan went shopping separately from her family. When she did not respond to calls, her loved ones grew worried. She was later found in anaphylactic shock near Planet Hollywood and had self-administered an epinephrine pen. Rushed to the hospital, she passed away before her husband and mother-in-law arrived. An autopsy confirmed elevated levels of nuts and dairy in her system, with her death ruled an accident.
Now, Mr. Piccolo is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Springs, and Great Irish Pubs Florida Inc. (which operates Raglan Road), seeking over $50,000 in damages and a jury trial. In a recent motion, he has also demanded Raglan Road disclose all recipes and ingredients for the food his wife consumed.
Initially, Disney sought arbitration rather than a trial, citing the fine print in agreements Piccolo had accepted when subscribing to Disney+ and purchasing EPCOT tickets.
A Disney spokesperson also addressed the matter, clarifying the company’s position. “We are deeply saddened by the family’s loss and understand their grief,” the spokesperson said, via CBS News. “Given that this restaurant is neither owned nor operated by Disney, we are merely defending ourselves against the plaintiff’s attorney’s attempt to include us in their lawsuit against the restaurant.”
The House of Mouse later changed course on the matter.
“At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro stated (via CBS News). “With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss. As such, we’ve decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court.”
The response drew strong criticism from attorney Peter Giattino, who is also Tangsuan’s cousin. He condemned Disney’s initial stance, calling it “shocking and absurd”.
Amid the legal proceedings, Raglan Road has since revised its allergen disclaimer on its website. “Kindly note that we are NOT a Gluten/Allergen free restaurant,” the notice reads. “We CANNOT guarantee that any dish we prepare is free from Gluten/Allergen or free from cross contact. Guests must notify their server of any allergy-friendly requests.” The statement further notes that while a manager will discuss allergy concerns with guests, the final decision remains with the individual.
As the case progresses, it continues to highlight concerns surrounding allergy safety in restaurants and corporate responsibility at major theme parks. Disney Dining will provide updates as new information emerges.
