Family Seeks $10 Million from Benihana for Man's Death

By Merylee Robbins

Published on January 13, 2006

While ducking to avoid a shrimp that was tossed into the air by one of Benihana's hibachi chefs, Colaitis wrenched his neck, sustaining severe injuries that required surgery. After visiting with chiropractors and multiple neurosurgeons, Colaitis underwent surgery in June of 2001 to repair his neck. Complications arose after surgery, causing numbness in Colaitis's arm, which possibly indicated damage to the spinal cord or a severe infection. Months down the road, Colaitis developed a fever of 105 degrees and checked into the hospital. He died a day later.

Coalitis's family claims that his death was the direct result of the injury cause by avoiding the airborne shrimp at the Benihana restaurant, and is seeking $10 million in a lawsuit filed against the restaurant. Benihana maintains that Coalitis's death was due to natural causes and was unrelated to the incident at their restaurant.

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