A female diner who suffered second-degree burns on both legs after being engulfed in flames during a cooking show at a luxury Japanese restaurant in downtown Los Angeles has filed a lawsuit against the establishment. Maison Kasai fire lawsuit highlights the severe dangers and liability associated with tableside cooking accidents.
According to reports from the New York Post and court documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the incident occurred on September 5 at Maison Kasai, a high-end teppanyaki restaurant located inside Level 8 at the Moxy Hotel in downtown LA. The victim, Angela Ciccone, was having dinner with friends when the accident took place.
Table-Side Cooking Accident Results in Severe Burns
The lawsuit states that the accident happened while a chef was actively cooking food directly in front of the guests. A cooking oil container held by the chef suddenly ignited, causing the flames to spread to the chef’s arms and neck before engulfing Ciccone, who was seated nearby.
Ciccone desperately rolled on the floor and patted her legs to extinguish the flames, while a dining companion rushed over to help put out the fire. However, the lawsuit alleges that while restaurant staff quickly escorted the injured chef to another room, not a single employee stepped forward to assist Ciccone.
Hospitalization, Surgery, and Legal Demands
Paramedics eventually arrived following a 911 call, and Ciccone was rushed to an emergency room, where she was classified as a trauma patient. Medical staff diagnosed her with second-degree burns on both legs, administering intravenous fluids, narcotic pain relievers, and wound dressings.
The following day, on September 6, Ciccone was transferred to a specialized burn treatment center where she remained hospitalized until September 17. Her treatment included surgical debridement to remove damaged tissue and skin graft procedures. Legal representatives stated that the incident will leave her with permanent scarring, and graphic photos documenting the extensive burns on her legs were submitted as evidence.
Ciccone is now seeking compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of bodily function, humiliation, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
