Restaurant Sued Over Shrimp Thrown by Chef
A shrimp a hibachi chef tossed at a man eating at a Japanese steakhouse ultimately led to the diner’s death, his family claims in a $10-million wrongful death lawsuit against the restaurant chain Benihana.
Jerry Colaitis wrenched his neck when he ducked to avoid the shrimp in the chain’s Munsey Park restaurant, lawyer Andre Ferenzo said in opening statements in Mineola. Months after the January 2001 incident, the 43-year-old Long Island man died from complications caused by neck surgery he required afterward, the lawyer said.
Benihana lawyer Charles Connick said the cause of Colaitis’ death was an infection or a neck injury unrelated to the shrimp.
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