Rep. Dennis Kucinich settles legal beef over olive pit in sandwich

[goodhue]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich has settled his lawsuit against the operators of a House of Representatives cafeteria that sold him a sandwich that caused dental damage when he bit into an olive pit.

Kucinich says details of the settlement are confidential, but the matter was resolved "for an amount all parties believe reflects the actual out-of-pocket expenses related to this incident."

"I feel the defendants have responded fairly and reasonably," Kucinich said in a prepared statement. "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."

Kucinich's statement said he wanted to avoid litigation, but went to court because of the "severity, expense and duration of the dental injury" and its complications.



Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/01/rep_dennis_kucinich_settles_le.html

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http://kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28892&Itemid=2

[Kingofalldems]

1. Excellent!

Somebody not liking this one. Freepers hate him, he can't be all bad.

[sandyj999]

2. A Damn Shame he even had to explain. n/t

[Plucketeer]

3. If only...

..we had some supreme court justices that were this open and honest.



Boehner job opportunity

[doc03]

4. I broke a crown last fall eating pop corn, I guess I should sue

Orville Redenbacher for $150,000.

[frylock]

6. what's stopping you?

[doc03]

11. Because it would be ridiculous. That is one of the things wrong

with society today everyone wants something for nothing. Back when I was a kid one of my friends family had a homemade ice cream store. They would loose a bolt or nut from their ice cream mixer once in a while. A customer would bring it in and they would give them a free quart or cone and they would have a good laugh over it, no harm done. Today you have a cheery pit in a piece of pie or something and it is off to find a lawyer to cash in on it. Shit happens sometimes you have an unpopped kernel in a bag of popcorn it is nobody's fault. Be honest if that was John Boner everyone would be giving him hell.

[asolarski]

16. Ridiculous?

If someone is selling ice cream and regularly dropping nuts and bolts in it, then yes they are at fault. And they should be sued until they fix their problem or go out of business.

[davidinalameda]

19. let me see if I understand this

you're comparing someone accidentally leaving an olive pit in to someone who puts nuts and bolts in ice cream

okay

[doc03]

29. Accidents happen! You don't need a fucking lawyer

if get an olive pit in your salad. Every can of olives, cherries etc. has a warning "may contain pits". They even have to put a warning on seedless watermelons that they may contain some seeds so they don't get hauled in court by some ambulance chasing lawyer.

[dd2003]

47. free republic

is not here but around the corner

[AndyTiedye]

23. His Insurance May Require It

If your health insurance covers you for an accident that is someone else's fault,
your insurance company may require you to sue the at-fault party.
They will supply the lawyers, but you either have to sue or pay back what the insurance paid you.
This is called "subrogation" and is part of the terms of most insurance policies.

This generally also includes a "gag rule" so that you can't say that the insurance company made you do it.

[Catherina]

31. Stop making sense there. +1 n/t

[Duwamish]

37. I broke a tooth eating a piece of Irish Soda Bread last spring.

I made the bread... so I guess I could sue myself. Stupid tooth - broke off at the jawline and couldn't be saved.

[fascisthunter]

5. poor trolls

better luck next time... as usual

[Kingofalldems]

7. +1

[Prometheus Bound]

8. +1

[Bluebear]

35. +

[Bobbysox22]

9. I used to like Kucinich.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Prometheus Bound]

13. But now you adore him.

[laylah]

21. lol! nt

[Raine]

36. Uh huh and now ??????

finish the thought, don't keep us in suspense.

[Bobbysox22]

38. Now I think, well, his wife is cute.

[Raine]

46. :-) nt

[Cattledog]

12. K won't be re-elected so

squeezed what he could out of the cafeteria.

[Taverner]

14. Most people never read the whole story

He bit in, and it split his tooth in half

Seriously - an eater should KNOW these things!

[mommalegga]

15. His Congressional healthcare coverage

doesnt include dental?

Who would of thunk!

[Taverner]

17. Fed Coverage is notoriously bunk

They get a WAY worse deal than those of us who work in the private sector

[Psephos]

22. You forgot the sarcasm thingy.

Right?

I'd happily give up half a tooth for a plan half as good as Congress gets.

[Taverner]

26. Sure, they get great benefits in some things

But as a whole, private sector beats public sector every time

But it shouldn't have to be this way

It should be Cadillac plans for the masses

[Psephos]

27. Just a thought, but I'm in the private sector, and I've never even HAD a health plan. n/t

[boppers]

28. I haven't gotten any private sector coverage in 20 years.

So, uhm, yeah.....

[mommalegga]

33. Maybe Im just cynical

But I have a hard time beleiveing Congress would not bestow upon itself the best healthcare taxpayers can buy.

[Kingofalldems]

45. No dental coverage for feds--unless they pay extra

A lot extra.

[Merlot]

18. That's what I thought too

Of course pain and suffering and time spent at the dentist count for something, but he said the settlement was for "out of pocket" expenses? Maybe dental didn't cover it all.

[AndyTiedye]

24. His Insurance Company May Require Him to Sue

the at-fault party to recover what they paid out.
That is part of the terms of most insurance policies.

[davidinalameda]

20. he makes $174K for his congressional salary

plus whatever dental/health benefits he gets

he felt the need to sue because he bit into an olive pit and cracked his tooth

I've bit into my share and have never cracked anything

how hard did he bite down?

[tammywammy]

25. It required extensive dental work not covered by his insurance

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x295549

[doc03]

30. I would like to know how many shotgun BBs I bit into

eating my fathers wild game. It never occurred to me to sue his ass for it.

[mommalegga]

32. You got to go for the big bucks...

(assuming your Father wasnt a millionaire)

Sue the ammo makers...

After all, guns dont kill people, bullets do...

[Kingofalldems]

34. Keep this kicked and recced

[Cowboy X]

39. Could be too late

The damage may have been already done.

[Enrique]

40. his dental work was unusually traumatic

[jmowreader]

41. I kinda wish they'd have chosen a different synonym for "dispute"

Isn't Kucinich vegan?

[U4ikLefty]

42. If Obama broke his tooth?

Wonder if he would be made to sue.

Wonder if Duers would be opining about his legitimacy as a progressive politician.

Just askin.

[LanternWaste]

43. It seems that the twenty years of pro-tort reform

It seems that the twenty years of pro-tort reform propaganda has been chewed, swallowed and digested by so many more than merely the simpletons who view Fox news.

[Romulox]

44. What I don't get: why is the man who voted to force *me* to carry health insurance

voluntarily foregoing dental insurance? As a Federal employee, Dennis is eligible to purchase dental insurance. He chooses not to. And yet this is the same man who voted to force all of his constituents to purchase mandatory health insurance? :shrug: