A woman has taken legal action against a San Francisco Bay Area restaurant, Coup De Thai in Los Gatos, alleging that an appetizer caused burns to her vocal cords, esophagus, and nose due to excessive spiciness. The lawsuit filed by Harjasleen Walia accuses the restaurant, its cook, waitressing staff, and owner of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the lawsuit, Walia ordered the restaurant’s ‘Dragon Balls’ appetizer, a spicy deep-fried chicken dish, during a visit in the summer of 2021. Despite requesting less spice due to her intolerance, Walia alleges that the dish was excessively spicy, leading to a burning sensation in her mouth, throat, and nose. The lawsuit also claims that the waitress failed to provide any dairy products to help alleviate the burning sensation.
The restaurant, while acknowledging the dish is very spicy, stated that it’s not possible to make it less spicy depending on customers’ heat preferences. The lawsuit requests a jury trial and is set to be heard in Santa Clara County court on December 5. This case brings attention to the potential risks and legal implications associated with serving extremely spicy food.