Eataly In Boston Sued After Woman Allegedly Slipped On Prosciutto

Eataly's wide array of enticing Italian products may normally only strike customers as a threat to their wallets, but for one woman at the Boston location, it allegedly became a physical hazard as well. The Eataly chain is known for its large stores that mix markets selling imported Italian specialty goods with a variety of cafes and restaurants serving fresh food. Two of the biggest draws for the store are their classic Italian delis, and their free samples, which customers can snack on as they browse the aisles of pastas, desserts, and wine. It is the combination of those two things that are at the center of a new lawsuit, with a New Hampshire woman alleging that she fell and fractured her ankle after slipping on an errant slice of prosciutto.

According to attorneys for the woman, Alice Cohen, Eataly's failure to clean the slice of deli meat from the floor was an act of negligence that made the store dangerous (via Today). The lawsuit filing states that "Alice Cohen sustained bodily injuries ... and incurred necessary medical expenses." The court documents claim that Cohen suffered a left ankle sprain and a distal fibular avulsion fracture while approaching and trying to attain a collection of free samples, where the prosciutto slice was laying on the ground. Alice and her husband Ronald Cohen reportedly accrued over $7,500 in medical expenses due to the incident.

In addition to the medical expenses, the Cohens are seeking a minimum of $50,000 in damages (via Miami Herald). The lawsuit states that beyond the physical injuries, Alice Cohen suffered "a loss of enjoyment of life, pain, and suffering." Alice's husband Ronald is a co-plaintiff, claiming that the injury put a strain on their marriage, and that he has suffered a lack of consortium with his wife, which in legal terms refers to the companionship, support, and physical relationship between two spouses. The lawsuit notes that it is Eataly's duty to keep its floors clear for public use, and that it should not create an unreasonable risk for its customers. A pact which was allegedly violated by the store's failure to clean up the fatty and thin-sliced prosciutto.

Eataly started in Torino, Italy in 2007, and has since expanded to over 40 stores worldwide, with eight in the United States. The Boston location opened in 2016 in the Prudential Center, an upscale mall which is home to a variety of chain restaurants. The lawsuit was filed on August 11, and Eataly has yet to comment on the incident.