Shrimp dodging injury blamed for death
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/shr...956325433.html
January 13, 2006 - 8:03AM
The family of a US man is seeking $US10 million ($13.26 million) in damages, claiming he died from a neck injury months after ducking to avoid a shrimp tossed by a hibachi chef at a Japanese restaurant.
Lawyer Andre Ferenzo said in opening statements in the New York state Supreme Court yesterday that Jerry Colaitis, 43, wrenched his neck when he ducked to avoid the tossed prawn.
Colaitis, of Long Island, near New York, then died from complications caused by neck surgery he required afterward, Ferenzo said.
The incident occurred in January 2001. Colaitis went to a chiropractor and three neurosurgeons, and underwent surgery at the New York University Medical Centre in June, 2001, Ferenzo said. That November Colaitis was hospitalised with high fever and died the next day.
Charles Connick, a lawyer for Benihana, contended it was unlikely that a chef who works for tips would toss food at customers after being asked not to, as Ferenzo claimed.
Even so, he said, the cause of Colaitis' death was an infection or neck injury unrelated to the shrimp, Newsday reported yesterday.
AP