A woman says she suffered severe second-degree burns when her legs caught fire during dinner at a fashionable Los Angeles hibachi restaurant.
Angela Ciccone was dining with friends at Maison Kasai on Sept. 5 when a container of cooking oil held by a chef at her open-flame table ignited, setting the chef’s arm and neck ablaze, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“When Ms. Ciccone looked towards the floor, she saw that the floor and her legs were on fire,” the lawsuit states.
Ciccone alleges that she desperately rolled across the floor and patted her legs in an effort to put out the flames, while a friend rushed to assist her.
“Emergency physicians diagnosed Ciccone with second-degree burns to both lower extremities. She received intravenous fluids, narcotics, and burn dressings,” the court filing says.
While restaurant employees reportedly led the chef to another room, Ciccone claims that no staff member came to help her.
Firefighters arrived after a 911 call was placed, and Ciccone was taken to an emergency room, “where she arrived that evening as a trauma activation,” according to the lawsuit.
Japanese hibachi dining, also called teppanyaki, features chefs cooking meat, seafood and vegetables on a sizzling grill directly in front of diners, often incorporating flying utensils and other theatrical culinary techniques.
The following day, Ciccone was transferred to a specialized burn center, where she remained hospitalized until Sept. 17, according to court documents.
She underwent surgery to remove damaged tissue and received skin grafts. The lawsuit describes her recovery as intensely painful.
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“Each dressing change was excruciatingly painful as it would rip off new skin on her legs,” the filing states.
The lawsuit alleges that Ciccone will have permanent scarring.
A graphic photograph filed with the lawsuit shows extensive burns on her legs.
Maison Kasai is located on Level 8, a collection of upscale restaurants and bars on the eighth floor of downtown Los Angeles’ Moxy hotel.
The lawsuit names Lightstone Parent LLC as a defendant and identifies the company as the restaurant’s owner.
On its website, Maison Kasai describes itself as “an elevated teppanyaki restaurant blending culinary virtuosity with performance art.”
The menu includes high-end offerings such as A5 Kobe beef, Maine lobster, caviar and a Wagyu beef truffle burger.
Ciccone is seeking damages for alleged physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, physical impairment, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life.
Lightstone Parent LLC and Maison Kasai were contacted for comment.
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