A Florida man who says he sustained injuries from a toilet collapse at an Outback Steakhouse is now suing the restaurant. Michael Green filed his complaint against Outback Steakhouse of Florida, LLC in Marion County on Dec. 9, People reported.
What happened at Outback Steakhouse?
In his lawsuit against Outback Steakhouse, Green said he went to use the restroom at a location in Ocala, Florida on March 26 and faced an unexpected malfunction. According to the complaint, Green was sitting on the toilet in the handicap stall when “the toilet suddenly shattered and collapsed beneath [him], causing him to fall,” resulting in “severe bodily injury.”
Green is alleging negligence, saying the restaurant failed to properly inspect the toilet. He also said the restaurant should have been aware of the “unreasonably dangerous condition” and that customers should have been warned about the danger.
Green’s lawsuit states that he sustained “significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function and/or permanent and significant scarring.” He also noted that he’s now dealing with ongoing pain and suffering, as well as medical expenses and lost wages. Green is seeking $50,000 in damages for his injuries.
The lawsuit comes amid Outback Steakhouse’s many closures across the country
In recent months, Outback Steakhouse’s parent company, Bloomin’ Brands, announced that it was closing many of its underperforming stores. Eric Christel, Bloomin’ Brands’ chief financial officer, said declining sales and traffic have posed a challenge for the company, according to People.
Following the closures, Outback Steakhouse said it will invest more into the remaining locations as part of its effort to improve food quality, customer service, marketing and overall enhancement.
Back in February, Outback Steakhouse closed 41 locations and shut down even more stores in October.