Restaurant Ordered to Pay Man GHC57m After Serving Him Detergent Instead of Water
- William Cronnon checked into a restaurant in 2014 and was served cleaning liquid instead of water
- The mishap caused harm as he became sick and was forced to seek medical attention
- He later sued the restaurant for damages and won the case in a move that saw him bag GHC58 million
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!
When William Cronnon, a Tennessee man walked into a restaurant, he did not know his meal and the service at the establishment will lead to sickness and a years-long legal battle.
Source: UGC
Costly mistake
Well, Cronnon did his thing but unfortunately, a waitress served him cleaning liquid instead of water, when he asked for a glass to quench his thirst.
According to Today.com, Cronnon was enjoying himself at a Marion County Cracker Barrel when a waitress served him a mixture of water and Eco-San, a commercial-grade bleach.
Enjoy reading our stories? Join YEN.com.gh's Telegram channel for more!
The minor mishap cost the man his health as he developed gastrointestinal issues like regular cramping, bloating, diarrhoea and reflux plain shortly after the April 2014 incident.
Following his hospital visits and treatments, Cronnon moved to court to sue the establishment and actually won the case.
According to a lawsuit and press release by Cronnon’s attorney, the man actually won the case and was granted KSh 940 million for damages.
Light at the end of the tunnel
“Plaintiff then ingested what he thought was ice water, only to immediately realize that it was not ice water, but was some chemical that caused a burning sensation in his mouth and oesophagus,” the lawsuit read in part.
Cronnon's legal representative, through news station WTVC of Chattanooga disclosed that his client's injuries were “severe and persistent enough” that he could no longer work.
YEN.com.gh understands that the case went to trial where a jury awarded Cronnon compensatory damages totalling GHC23m and punitive damages of GHC27m.
Through a statement following the ruling, the restaurant, Cracker Barrel noted;
"While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury’s award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago.”
Hotel not happy
A spokesperson from the establishment insisted that the restaurant was considering its options but was glad the matter was behind them as they can now better focus on caring for guests and employees around the country.
According to NBC affiliate channel, WRCB of Chattanooga, it’s unlikely Cronnon will get to keep the full amount awarded due to a state law that puts a cap on economic damages.
Cronnon's attorney told the news station that the amount will likely be lowered to a little over GHC33m.
Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
Source: YEN.com.gh
Edwin Lamptey Edwin’s goal is to drive YEN’s entertainment desk to become the go-to location for authentic entertainment news in Ghana and the reference point for viral foreign entertainment news. He will seek to entertain and say it as it is! He holds a degree in English, History and Religion and Human Values from the University of Cape Coast.
Aba Afful (Copyeditor) Maame Aba serves as a copy editor at YEN.com.gh. She naturally enjoys working with words and has an eye for quality content. She has a keen interest in cyberspace and wants to see YEN.com.gh produce more impactful, thought-provoking, and error-free content. Aba has five years of experience as a content writer, blogger, author, and proofreader. She graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2017. She joined the team in 2021.
