PARKERSBURG - A Wood County woman claims that a national restaurant chain literally dumped on her.
Emily Michelle Allman of Mineral Wells filed suit against The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant on Dec. 8 in Wood Circuit Court. In her complaint, Allman alleges both it, and its parent companies, Orlando, Fla.-based GMRI Inc., and Darden Restaurants Inc., are responsible the injuries she sustained during a visit to one of its locations two years ago.
According to the suit, Allman was a guest at Olive Garden's location in Vienna on Dec. 10, 2007. She was there for a holiday luncheon.
At a time not specified, Allman reached over to reposition her son in his high chair. In the course of repositioning him, Allman alleges an unknown employee "negligently dropped a tray of drinks on [her]."
As a result of the tray and drinks hitting her, Allman alleges she incurred injuries her head, neck and shoulder, and later developed "tinnitus, facial numbness, dizziness, insomnia, loss of appetite, amnesia, nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression."
In her suit, Allman alleges the injuries have caused her "a loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, a loss of earning capacity, pain, suffering and mental anguish." Allman's husband, Brian, claims a loss of consortium, and is listed as a co-plaintiff.
The Allmans seek unspecified damages, interest and court costs. They are represented by Richard D. Dunbar with the Parkersburg law firm of Dunbar and Fowler.
The case is assigned to Judge J.D. Beane.
Wood Circuit Court, case number 09-C-610