Update: Kucinich Settles Dispute Over Dangerous Olive Sandwich
- Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:33pm by
Meredith Jessup
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After making headlines this week for accusing a congressional cafeteria of selling him a “dangerous” sandwich, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, released a statement today announcing his lawsuit seeking $150,000 in damages had been settled.
“Though I would prefer to focus your attention on my work dealing with the profoundly important issues that face our nation, such as job creation, getting the economy back on track, and ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Kucinich said, “it seems that some are more interested in discussing my personal dental issues.”
After inadvertently chomping down on a pitted olive, the congressman described the pain as “excruciating,“ but insists he was a trooper who ”went right back to work.”
Eventually, Kucinich wrote, the small injury ended up affecting six of his teeth with an infection that required emergency medical intervention. “This injury required nearly two years, three dental surgeries, and a substantial amount of money to rectify,” he said.
The parties involved in the suit have settled for an undisclosed amount that reflect the out-of-pocket expenses incurred, Kucinich concluded. “I don’t want to have to make another dental visit for a very long time, and will be making no further comment on this matter.”
If you’re interested, check out his full statement below:
Regarding Settlement of Dental Injury Law Suit
Dear Friend,
Though I would prefer to focus your attention on my work dealing with the profoundly important issues that face our nation, such as job creation, getting the economy back on track, and ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – it seems that some are more interested in discussing my personal dental issues. Given the degree of public interest you should know some details:
This injury required nearly two years, three dental surgeries, and a substantial amount of money to rectify.
The legal action you have heard about was filed due to the severity, expense and duration of the dental injury, the complications which followed and which still persist. I wanted to resolve this matter without filing a lawsuit. The events below involved numerous dental visits, more than are detailed in this summary.The dental injury set in motion a chain of dental and medical events.
When I bit into the olive pit, (unbeknown to me at the time), upon impact the tooth split in half, vertically through the crown and the tooth, below the level of the bone. Externally there was no evidence of a break. 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.
This tooth is a key tooth which anchored my upper bridgework. The injured tooth and the bone above it became infected. I took a course of antibiotics for the infection, had an adverse reaction to the antibiotics which caused me to have an intestinal obstruction and emergency medical intervention.
Later, my dentist referred me to 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. Many months later still a second implant succeeded. My bridgework had to be completely reconfigured, a new partial was designed, so 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 clamor for information about this incident requires that I provide at least this much information. I would have liked to provide such details sooner but did not want it said that I was trying the case in the media. So that is why I declined any interviews about the matter.The parties have exchanged information and after some investigation and discussion have resolved the matter for an amount all parties believe reflects the actual out-of-pocket expenses related to this incident. The terms of the settlement are confidential; however, I feel that the defendants have responded fairly and reasonably. I don’t want to have to make another dental visit for a very long time, and will be making no further comment on this matter.
Thank you very much.
Dennis
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Comments (115)
ANTISOCIAL-IST
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:26pmwow. tell us how you really feel. lol
Report Post »redneckgenius
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:26pmif you only had AFLAC… maybe you wouldn’t have had to sue
Report Post »Tundra4x4
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:51pmWell he is a quack!
Report Post »ANTISOCIAL-IST
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:22pmsince they have stonings in islamoland maybe we can have olive pitting in d.c. this tool will be the first “customer.” what? Jesus didn’t saying anything about olive pits.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:19pmI would imagine that if this imbecile wouldn’t have sued over something silly as this we would be focusing on his achievements. But stupid is as stupid does.
Report Post »RobR
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:19pmHey Denny, maybe we can anonymously send a few cases of pitted olives over to the taliban, but really sustitute ones with pits. Then our guys can stake out all the local dental officesover in Pakistan and Afghanistan and capture them when they show up.
Maybe we could also do a fake “ Crazy Ahkmed ” the lawyer commercials, stating if you. or anyone you know bit into what was suppose to be a pitted olive and it was not, come in for free consultation….and we grab em up.
Dennis K., you sir are a true American.
Report Post »John Henry
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:10pmNice little weasel hope your heroic battle with the pit is etched in stone. You should have to pay the cost of your own teeth, Most of the damage probably came from the idiotic statements he made. Ohio be proud of your super duper political weasel‘ Oh by the way I really don’t like the man. Any statements made that imply I do were totally unintentional.
Report Post »Dumbsht
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:08pmMust have had really poor teeth to start with. WTF ? gotta brush once in a while man
As for feeling up the olives…one can only hope that is all he is feeling up !
Beware of the aggressive olives of Washington !
Report Post »WhatsUp
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:05pmWe are his constituents and are extremely (as always) embarrassed by anything/everything this man does! We are hoping when they pulled the tooth, they took the long way up to get to it (you know bottom up so to speak)! Although, it would be hard to tell his head from his (you know what)! Please Census Bureau, release OH’s declining census numbers so that Gov. Kasich can get rid of our district and Kucinich!
Report Post »The Bees Know
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:00pmPain, suffering, mental distress! The poor guy. Maybe he should retire.
Report Post »marcoman
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:56pmThe only problem with this story is that Congressmen and Senators do not pay for their food. It is one of the perks of the office. They also receive free medical and dental. His settlement was for “loss of enjoyment.” What enjoyment? This is why we need tort reform post haste.
Report Post »smalldog
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:52pmI’ve seen signs warning folks that facilities serve pitted olives, which may contain the pits. I’m not sure what the alternative is, I can’t imagine someone feeling up the olives before they put them on the sandwich.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:53pmI learned in a law class that you could not sue for something that you could “natuarally assume” could be contained in a product .. i.e. a cherry pit in a cherry pie .. this was a frivolous lawsuit .. and he got what he wanted! Should not have!
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:49pmSo this injured trooper went right back to work? Guess we should give this self-pitying crybaby a PURPLE HEART! After all, HE WAS WOUNDED IN BATTLE WITH AN OLIVE wasn’t he?
Report Post »Beckaj
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:36pmSo the congressional cafeteria settled. My assumption is that the cafeteria is government owned, which means that we the people footed the bill. At least we didn’t have to pay $150,000!
Report Post »ANTISOCIAL-IST
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:31pmyeah, but if “we are” paying for it they probably settled for 149,999 and the discount was to show us that he really wasn’t in it for the money.
Report Post »Country
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:24pmBan olive pits.
Report Post »NICE NICE TACO
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:24pmMaybe if he took better care of his teeth when he was younger, he would not have sustained this injury. Normal, reasonable people would have just gone to the dentist and taken care of business and be done with it. EGAD.
Report Post »dtibodo
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:23pmWhy does he not have dental insurance?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:56pmI would bet that they have cafeteria bennies … so he chose not to have dental and takes the money or applies it to another bennie .. really still didn’t cost him because he got the benefit somewhere. And then on top of it he sues when he should have reasonable assumed that a pit could be contained in the sandwich since he himself said he knew it contained olives. (i.e. can’t sue over a Cherry Pie that contains a pit — you have a reasonable assumption that it could)
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:27amOf course he has dental insurance (paid by us). I would venture to say there is no dedeuctible and no co-pay. What exactly are his out of pocket expenses? Did he have to hire a royal food taster to make sure there were no naturally occuring objects in his food since the incident? Did he have to hire a royal food chewer? A royal chef? Give me a break
Report Post »integrican
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:12pmHe must been pretty hungry to attack a sandwich with that much vigor.
Now Dennis, bite politely and cheeew your food 23.5 times or your going to your room, Mister!!!!
….a tropper for returning to work? Does he push that pencil around with his teeth? I say more like a kitty kitty!!!
Report Post »MJ1025
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:12pmA big baby. To make it even worse, he supports obamacare for us but not Congress. When gov’t takes over healthcare, you can not sue the gov’t.
Report Post »CITIZENCHET
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:11pmYou have no dental insurance therefore it has to come out of your pocket. Imagine the cost of a sandwich that had to be assigned a pit inspector (who would probably have dental insurance). Life isn‘t fair sometimes it’s the pits!
Report Post »EP46
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:44amI would like to let him know that IF my company drops my health insurance (I pay part) due to obama care…I will also loose my dental coverage (I pay part). They just don’t think about how these things affect people.
Report Post »Did he get free legal representation ??? Is the cafeteria supported by tax money in any way ??
I agree with a post the other day. When I took Business Law you could not SUE due to something that could occur naturally in a food. SUCH AS AN OLIVE PIT IN AN OLIVE …you could sue if it were ‘foreign’ substance, such as glass. Wonder how he managed this ?? They just paid to stop the publicity ????
KenInIL
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:09pmRep Kucinich should restrict himself to baby food is small bones and seeds are a problem. I can‘t believe his Congressional dental care didn’t pay fully for whatever he needed – so where was the expense – time off from work? I would be good to doc the pay of congressmen when they miss a vote w/o a valid excuse.
Report Post »petey
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:23pmHe is very toddler like in size and attitude, maybe the junior line of foods would suit him.I thought his Mrs.is loaded.Why not just eat the cost Denny,and go on smiling?
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 10:32pmFalse teeth. WE paid for this misuse of justice. Creep.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:08pmAfter reading all his problems, it appears that America has a root canal problem also and he is it.
Report Post »So
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:07pmDennis Kucinich, D-Ohio vs olive pit. The pit won.
Report Post »fertlmind
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:19pmThat Pit should sue Kucinich for being bit by Dennis’ filthy mouth!
Report Post »Where is the ACLU on this?
Salamander
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:06pmHe should have ordered a Buz and Ned’s Barbecue!!! Never saw a pit in a pig!!!! Much safer to eat meat than those dangerous veggies!
Report Post »c10win
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:52pmBut I’ve seen a few pigs in a pit!! Go Richmond! And whiners can always find a reason to sue…
Report Post »randy
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:05pmMY God, what a baby!
Report Post »kindling
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 12:11amI have bitten into those pits before….he must have been really hungry and in a big hurry to have chomped that hard. I think I will get all my olives on the side from now on.
Report Post »E-PITCHFORK
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:03pmWhat a weasel, nice to see who our representatives really are underneath. I am embarrassed for Ohio.
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:18pmOpen wide Dennis. The dentist will insert his tool in your mouth. Won’t hurt a bit!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:22pm“Although the pain was excruciating, I shook it off and I went right back to work.”
Wow, for a minute Dennis I thought you were a NFL player.
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:36pmSomehow, I thought Congressman had a great healthcare and dental plan, and didn’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses.
Report Post »Maybe not.
German Dude
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:38pmDid Michele OK that olives be served in Congress?
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:44pmHa weasel, I was going to use the term rodent.
Report Post »I Believe In American Exceptionalism
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:47pmThe constituents of the Little Man with Big Ideas out there in Cleveland are cheering him on – they appreciate his moxie in finding a novel way to shake a business down for some Free Money. I bet they‘re glad he settled the case so he can return to work on Obama’s wealth redistribution agenda. BTW – when it comes to Presidential timber, Kucinich falls short. Just like his Social Justice Brother, Barack Hussein Obama.
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:30pmI’m sorry Mr. Kucinich but you are what is wrong with this country! 150k because you chipped a tooth is more than ridicules. People with frivolous law suites like him are why malpractice insurance are through the roof. Why no Dr‘s want to be OB’s or anesthesiologists anymore. Shame on you!
Report Post »My Sacred Honor
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:35pmWonder if the settlement was for another sandwich, hold the olives?
Report Post »My Sacred Honor
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:39pm@ BOOGER….you mean like Ronnie Lott having his horribly broken finger surgically removed DURING a game so he could keep playing? In the SAME game?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:48pmWhat “out of pocket” … I bet it didn’t cost him a thing! He got so much “flack” that he decided to drop it .. good job people .. at least trying to keep these weasels from suing we the people .. when they live off we the people. What a jerk!
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 10:10pmMaybe now he will pay his cafateria bill. A commie suing like a capatolist. Unbelivable.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 10:29pmE-PITCHFORK
Report Post »I agree…what a weiner! I would NOT reelect this &^%$# if he were my rep.
Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 11:18pm.
Report Post »At least the olives gave him some stones!
- Something most liberals are born without.
(Hillary being the unusual exception.)
ozz
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 1:21amI hate how lawyers and insurance companies squeeze the fun out of life, and I think our laws need to be rewritten with common sense. If you get hurt due to your own stupidity it should be your bill. BUT His claim seems reasonable if it is truthful, providing he only sought compensation for out of pocket costs. For the record I do not like this man and consider ******** treasonous.
Report Post »watchmany2k
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 3:53amOlive Pit:
Keeping a socialist mouth shut for even a little while….
Pinhead or Patriot, Olive ?
You decide…
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 5:43amWhy is it that we have to have our fingers in this kind of thing.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:32amwhat gets me is he is claiming damage to 6 teeth. it is either fraud or after the first damage, he tried to chew it 5 more times in different places in his mouth, each time damaging another tooth. He is either a criminal or a moron, i can’t decide
Report Post »BubbaCoop
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:49amJust Northern Ohio.
Seriously, there’s no dental on the Congressional health care plan?!
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:38amHe’s a typical Democrat. That is someone with zero character.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 10:09amGosh, I just hope the dentist‘s name isn’t “Barney”, who just changed careers after the mortgage crisis!
Report Post »RantNationDotCom
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 11:21amDennis,
Report Post »We the People give you free dental care. Apparently that isn’t enough and you want We the People to write you a $150,000 check for a toothache, and you don‘t think it’s newsworthy? What’s in the water in Ohio?