Dennis Kucinich Suing Congressional Cafeteria Companies Over Olive Pit

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) recently filed a lawsuit against the food-service companies that run a congressional cafeteria over a 2008 incident involving a stray olive pit placed in a sandwich wrap.

In his complaint, captured by Gawker, Kucinich argues that the wrap, which was supposed to contain only pitted olives, was "unwholesome and unfit for human consumption." Chewing the pit, he claims, resulted in "serious and permanent dental and oral injuries requiring multiple surgical and dental procedures."

Kucinich is seeking $150,000 from Restaurant Associates and three other companies that run the cafeteria in the Longworth congressional office building.

Check out Gawker's coverage of the matter, which includes a video that may contradict Kucinich's account -- showing him speaking, seemingly uninhibited, on the House floor mere days after what he claims was extensive dental work.

Comments

[edchuckndoug]

05:21 AM on 01/31/2011

Too bad he didn't get this kind of coverage about his health care bill.

[keeneye]

12:03 PM on 01/29/2011

The irony is, he probably didn't even pay for the wrap. We, the taxpayers did.

[veganrd]

05:09 PM on 01/28/2011

Excerpt DK’s response
Full response http://kucinich.us/index.php

This injury required nearly two years, three dental surgeries, and a substantial amount of money to rectify.

I wanted to resolve this matter without filing a lawsuit. The dental injury set in motion a chain of dental and medical events. This was not about aesthetics. The internal structure of the tooth was rendered nonrestorable. Although the pain was excruciating, I shook it off and I went right back to work.

The injured tooth and the bone above it became infected. I took a course of antibiotics ...had an adverse reaction ... which caused ... an intestinal obstruction and emergency medical intervention.

... a specialist who informed me that the damaged tooth had to be removed. A third dentist removed the tooth and I was fitted for a temporary partial. I waited for the bone to heal. An implant was placed, but it failed... later still a second implant succeeded. ... this injury did not affect only one tooth, but rather involved six (6) replacement teeth as well. A new crown with a new precision attachment was engineered and put in place.

To clarify, no dental expenses were covered by any health plan, nor did I have dental insurance that covered the injury, which, until it was resolved, affected my ability to chew food properly.

The terms of the settlement are confidential; however, I feel that the defendants have responded fairly and reasonably.

[RKD84]

05:06 PM on 01/28/2011

According to Kucinich, he did not have dental coverage at the time and paid for all of his expenses out of pocket. The break also destroyed a significant amount of previous dental work he'd had because of its location and made it difficult for him to chew. Apparently, it took over 6 procedures to rectify the issue as well as new bridgework and six new teeth.

That's his story anyway.

Even though I think $150,000 is a lot, I'm still going to judge him by the political policies he supports, rather than his dental issues. I'd say the same thing if a politician was caught with a prostitute, even though that sort of behavior is very unbecoming of a person.

I don't think we should jump to conclusions based on 1 incident we may not agree with unless it is a serious one, such as killing someone, voting to go to a war that is clearly not justified, etc.

[FarmetteReport]

09:31 AM on 01/28/2011

When I first heard this story, I told my husband: "Considering he has free dental care, $150,000 is a LOT of money for an olive pit, but when you consider that Kucinich has just committed political suicide, $150,000 doesn't seem like a whole lot."

I hope he thinks this ridiculous lawsuit is worth it, because Kucinich has just squandered a great deal of the credibility and respect that he may have earned over the years. As others have said, it really is a PITy.

[CrazyThisIs]

02:42 AM on 01/28/2011

I'm curious as to how much he actually had to spend on his surgeries. Dental pain is the craziest kind of pain imaginable. I don't know whether any of his assertions are true, but if they are, I could see the bills piling up. My jaw hurts just thinking about it.

[SweetJudith]

02:57 AM on 01/28/2011

I know what you mean CrazyThis. I had a terrible time with my teeth when I was Pregnant with my twins. The little darlings took quite a bit from me, it just happens..Even with all of the vitamins...

[CrazyThisIs]

03:41 AM on 01/28/2011

OOOF - sounds horrid. The dental pain, not the twins :-). My sister has twins. They are absolutely lovely; my little ragamuffins. My sister never had a dental issues, just migraines. That was odd, as our whole brood has them, but never her. Pregnancy, then BAM - migraines. She had the one pregnancy, but the two babies. Miracle, that.

[Michael Morrison]

01:57 AM on 01/28/2011

Evidently, Mr. Kucinich was never pushing for tort reform.

[SweetJudith]

02:29 AM on 01/28/2011

Two years are two years....Anyway you look at it, alot can happen! :)

[SweetJudith]

01:19 AM on 01/28/2011

Dennis is a vegan, so is his lovely wife. My husband and I met both of them at two party's to raise money when he decided to run for President. I wish he would have won, he means what he says..He is a decent human being. His sandwich wrap was not suppose to have a pit in it!
Look at the million's that Bush and Cheney stole from us, even their friends received free medical help. Give Dennis a break. He and Elizabeth are truly wonderful people.
He is one of Keith Olbermann's favorites, Keith stands for the truth, just as Dennis does...
KUCINICH
2012

[Michael Morrison]

02:05 AM on 01/28/2011

Wonderful people don't sue for $150,000 for a broken tooth.

Glad you like 'em; however, his ilk are killing the country. It's PITiful.

[SweetJudith]

02:24 AM on 01/28/2011

You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I'm sure the men that you fancy, Bush and Cheney, didn't bother you when they stole billions...Shame on you sweetie...:)

[dporterdvd]

12:21 AM on 01/28/2011

If Rush Limbaugh broke a tooth on a big ham bone, would he sue the restaurant or would he take personal responsibility for putting his teeth where they don't belong? Or would Rush just blame the broken tooth on the Democrats?

[linehanpc]

10:17 PM on 01/27/2011

Cong.Kucinich goes for $$$ due to a chipped tooth. But Cong Giffords shot through the brain? Gets nothing under current fed law: ECAB 09-1495 (AM v USPS) Fed employee with severe traumatic brain injury: no compensation is permitted: "the brain is not included among the list of scheduled members under the Act and regulations. As such, appellant cannot be compensated for any cognitive (brain) deficit."

[stepheniegwen]

08:22 PM on 01/27/2011

C'mon. I normally like this guy, but this seems just stupid.

[satanlite]

04:00 PM on 01/27/2011

Just go you white parasite.
 
You're already more than wealthy enough to afford 10 tooth repair jobs like this without batting an eye. You and your simpering lawyer smell money and a chance to enrich yourself at the expense of a company that will probably go out of business and dump a few dozen hard working Americans on the unemployment lines. Proud of yourself? I doubt you even look at it that way.
 
Entitlement. Rich mans faux outrage. FU.

[Genders]

03:37 AM on 01/29/2011

he's not rich at all. see his responses above.

[jenna2929]

03:28 PM on 01/30/2011

people that aren't wealthy sue as well. and what does race have to do with this?

[wishmehere]

03:58 PM on 01/27/2011

Oh my god that would hurt sooo bad.

[bswell]

03:35 PM on 01/27/2011

We love you Dennis, but is this all you have to do?

[GaiasChild]

03:30 PM on 01/27/2011

I can see how this will invite mockery and yet . . . the cafeteria management and the cafeteria chewers are warned . . . the way to prevent this is not to use any unsliced olives in the sandwiches . . . it's not unusual to get an olive with a pit in a can or jar of olives . . so make sure they are sliced . . . he's doing a service to his fellow chewers and he's never lived his life in a way to manage his image. he's always made adult choices. i regret that the mockery might be so much fun for the media that it puts us dennis fans on the defensive but that's not the point really, is it.

[JimR]

03:43 PM on 01/27/2011

"he's doing a service to his fellow chewers"

You should win some kind of award for that spin.

[GaiasChild]

03:49 PM on 01/27/2011

I should. Maybe I could say it better for your sake. Once this word gets around, nobody in the cafeteria is going to chomp into that sandwich without looking at the olives. Does it help for me to say it this way? I'm just empathizing or imagining what I'd be doing in the cafeteria . . . .

[williamg]

03:53 PM on 01/27/2011

Hahahahhahahaa