The tragic death of a woman at Disney World in Florida has sparked a legal battle between her husband and the entertainment giant. Jeffrey Piccolo filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney after his wife, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, died from a severe allergic reaction in 2023. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant at Disney World where they dined did not take proper care of her severe allergies to dairy and nuts.
However, Disney is arguing that Mr. Piccolo cannot sue them due to terms he agreed to when signing up for a free trial of Disney+. The company claims that Mr. Piccolo agreed to settle any disputes through arbitration when he created his Disney account in 2019 and purchased tickets to the theme park in 2023.
Mr. Piccolo’s lawyers have called Disney’s arguments “preposterous” and “inane,” stating that the terms of use should not apply to a wrongful death or personal injury claim. Legal experts are divided on the issue, with some believing that Disney’s argument is a stretch of contract law, while others see the arbitration clause as a valid defense.
The case is set to be heard in front of a Florida judge in October, where Disney will argue for the dispute to be resolved through arbitration. Mr. Piccolo, on the other hand, is pushing for the case to go to a jury trial in a court of law. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for how companies handle disputes with their customers in the future.
