Disney has finally agreed to go to court in a lawsuit filed by the widower of a woman who died after an allergic reaction to a park restaurant that the company was trying to cancel because of a Disney+ subscription.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, told CNN that the company is waiving its right to arbitration in the case.
“At Disney, we strive to place humanity above all other considerations. With circumstances as unique as those of this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach in order to expedite a resolution for the family who has experienced such a painful loss,” he explained to the outlet.
A few days earlier, however, Disney had taken a completely different approach, based on an online streaming service contract that the widower, Jeffrey Piccolo, had entered into by signing up for the Disney+ trial version.
According to the company’s argument, the contract, taken in 2019 when registering for the trial of the online platform, obliges users to arbitrate all disputes with Disney, preventing the case from being brought to court.
Mr Piccolo claims his late wife, Kanokporn Tangsuan, suffered a fatal allergic reaction following a meal she had at Raglan Road Irish Pub in Disney Springs in 2023.
He is seeking damages of more than $50,000 (C$68,600) under Florida’s wrongful death law, as well as damages for mental suffering, loss of income, medical and funeral expenses.
