Suit Claims Hotel Gift Poisoned Guest

The Waldorf-Astoria, one of New York City’s historic luxury hotels, has been hit with a $6.5-million lawsuit by a woman who said she was poisoned by fruit and cheese the hotel sent her as a peace offering after another guest urinated at her door. The lawsuit alleged negligence and gross breach of contract, Gary Lyman, the lawyer for Elizabeth Jaffe, said. Jaffe’s suit said “a virtually naked woman” tried to enter her room with a key the night of May 18 and then urinated at her door. The next evening the hotel sent Jaffe a bottle of wine, fruit and cheese as an apology, but, according to the suit, Jaffe awoke at 1 a.m., violently ill, with what doctors determined was food poisoning. The hotel denied the food caused her any discomfort.