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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Crime / Chow / Life "My Husband"

Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 3:19 PM

The email arrived on Christmas Eve, with the above as the subject line. Here it is, with hyperlinks provided by me.

Hello Dave,

I was just searching online for articles about my husband that died at Ruby Tuesdays and I found your article that you wrote on him in July of '08, I just wanted to give you an update on what has been going on since, yes I filed a lawsuit, and I won my lawsuit Dec 19 2009.

Sincerely,
Mrs Hawkins

Apropos of Dan's post, let us note that at least one American spent this past Christmas Eve Googling news stories about her dead husband. Here's hoping the settlement money helps provide some diversion from the grief that'll never go away.

Comments (16) RSS

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I really am inexpressibly sorry for that poor woman's loss, but I still have a hard time blaming Ruby Tuesdays for the guy's apparent inability to tell that he was eating crab instead of chicken.

When you're severely allergic you gotta look out for yourself, and for goodness' sake carry an Epi-pen when you eat out so that if something like this does happen you don't wind up leaving a grieving widow. Anaphylaxis is serious business.

Posted by balderdash

on December 30, 2009 at 3:43 PM

My hopes for Mrs. Hawkins and her family are ones I carry for myself and mine. Happy New Year Slog!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXOcIozTI…

Posted by yurnomme on December 30, 2009 at 3:44 PM

As a 44-yr-old whose parents died when I was 14 and 19, I can say that yes, the pain does subside. And why would someone who's deathly allergic to crabmeat not be suspicious of a plate that came with white flecks in it when they were supposed to be green? And Epi-pens for all allergic -- absolutely.

Posted by idaho on December 30, 2009 at 3:45 PM

Huh. I actually know all the honchos at Ruby Tuesdays (their corporate offices are about 10 miles from me, and the ex worked for them for a while). They're not your typical bloodless corporate monsters. More like a bunch of crazy, fun-loving guys who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

My sympathies for your loss, Mrs. H, but you should be happy I wasn't on that jury.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on December 30, 2009 at 3:57 PM

@4, lucky for Mrs. H you wouldn't have been on the jury since you know those guys. Just saying.

Posted by Jen in Spokane on December 30, 2009 at 4:26 PM

Yeah, they're picky about things like that. Go figure.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on December 30, 2009 at 4:30 PM

@4 really? I didn't get that impression from this piece, but who knows.

Posted by minderbender on December 30, 2009 at 4:31 PM

It's tragic, absolutely, but it wasn't Ruby Tuesday's fault. It was just a case of the waiter mishearing and the husband not clarifying and not carrying an Epi-pen (when you're that allergic, you should notify the waiter, regardless of whether you're actually ordering something that contains it or not, and you should always carry an Epi-pen). I'm not blaming the husband, it was just bad luck, but it wasn't anybodies fault, and you have to be extra-careful.

Posted by N on December 30, 2009 at 4:31 PM

I know a guy who is profoundly allergic to shellfish, also to the point that he'd likely go into shock and die if he ate even a little. He's got a kit with him all the time (I guess it's an epi-pen?) and whenever he orders something at a resaurant where the staff don't know him, he goes out of his way to tell them he is deathly allergic to shellfish and he absolutely can't have any of it.

Terrible what happened to the H's in this story, but I agree with the others, you really have to watch out for yourself. I'm not dismissing Tuesday's from ANY blame, but still, protect yourself first and worry about finding blame second.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on December 30, 2009 at 4:56 PM

stuff happens.
it's nice to find somebody else to blame but sometimes it ain't nobody else's fault.
this gentleman's fate was in his own hands.

look for an appeal.

Posted by ivory on December 30, 2009 at 5:09 PM

Am I the only one who feels bad for the server?

And I agree with most of you - this is tragic and I'm really sorry for her loss, but you need to look out for yourself.

Posted by Dianna on December 30, 2009 at 6:55 PM

The article made it sound like it was a judgement, not a settlement.

Also, I tried their truly awful veggie burger (i.e., shitty-black-bean-and-rice-paste-formed-into-but-unable-to-hold-a-rough-patty-shape slapped in a bun) this week and fucking hated it, but I guess at least I lived.

Posted by Ben on December 30, 2009 at 7:51 PM

agreed - not ruby's fault. sorry for your loss, mrs. h, but his safety with regard to his allergies is his own responsibility, not that of the server or the restaurant.

Posted by mr. herriman on December 30, 2009 at 8:46 PM

Am I the only one who thought "Oh fuck it's HAL"?

Posted by Lee on December 30, 2009 at 9:33 PM

CHA-CHING, hawkins, CHA-CHING, and shouldn't you go by "Ms." instead of "Mrs." now?
My New Year's gift to you is a single crocodile tear. Does it taste salty, or just bitter?

Posted by mmbb_c on December 31, 2009 at 3:29 AM

I feel bad for the waitress. And while it was a really low move for them to insist the husband ordered a meal that would kill him, it's a bit steep for accidentally bringing someone the wrong dish. It's a tragedy that the family can't collect like this when someone is *deliberately* killed. Yikes.

@15. Fuck off.

Posted by sepiolida on December 31, 2009 at 11:47 AM