"Just Sat on the Toilet... Suffered Serious Injury": US Man Sues Outback Steakhouse

Similar Lawsuits Continue Across the United States
Debate Over Safety Responsibility in Public Facilities

An incident occurred in the United States where a toilet in the restroom of a well-known franchise restaurant broke, injuring a customer. As a lawsuit is currently underway, this case has once again drawn attention to the country's litigation culture surrounding poor facility management. On December 28 (local time), international media outlets including the New York Post reported the story of a man who, in March, was using the restroom at an Outback Steakhouse on Southwest College Road in Ocala, Florida, when the toilet suddenly shattered and collapsed beneath him.

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Michael Green claimed that the accident occurred while he was sitting on the toilet in the accessible restroom stall, causing him to fall to the floor and suffer serious injuries to parts of his body. In his complaint, Green stated, "As a result of this accident, I have suffered significant limitations in my daily life, including the loss of important bodily functions, and have lost the ability to enjoy life." He further argued that the restaurant was negligent in its basic safety management duties, such as failing to properly secure the toilet to the floor, thereby creating an unreasonably dangerous environment for customers. He is currently seeking approximately $50,000 (about 72 million Korean won) in damages.

This is not the first time a toilet breakage incident has led to a lawsuit in the United States. Last year, at a Dunkin' Donuts location in Florida, a male customer filed a lawsuit seeking $100,000 (about 144 million Korean won) in damages after a toilet "exploded" while he was using the restroom, causing feces and urine to splatter over his body. The man claimed he required intensive treatment due to severe psychological trauma following the incident.

In addition, there have been numerous cases in the United States where slip-and-fall accidents or facility breakages at large supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, hotels, and other public facilities have led to lawsuits seeking tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. Experts explain, "In the United States, there is a strong tendency to hold business owners strictly liable for facility safety management, so even minor negligence can result in large-scale lawsuits." The outcome of the current Outback Steakhouse case is also expected to depend on how the court assesses the facility management responsibility and the extent of the damages.