Customer Sues Dunkin Donuts Over ‘Exploding’ Toilet in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A customer has filed a negligence lawsuit against Dunkin`, claiming he was injured by an exploding toilet at one of the coffee chain`s locations in central Florida.

Paul Kerouac is seeking more than $100,000 in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court in Orlando, claiming he suffered “severe and long term injuries” following the explosion of a toilet in the men`s room of a Dunkin` location in Winter Park, Florida, a year ago.

After the explosion left Kerouac covered in human feces, urine and debris, he walked out of the men’s room seeking help from workers and the store’s manager, according to the lawsuit. An employee told him that they were aware of the “problem with the toilet” since there had been previous incidents, the lawsuit says, without diving into further details about the explosion.

When contacted by email for more details on Kerouac’s injuries, his attorney, Scott Spradley, said he was tied up and couldn’t answer the questions until the following day. The Canton, Massachusetts-based company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The lawsuit says Kerouac suffered “bodily injury,” and he has required mental health care and counseling since the incident in January 2022. The complaint argues that the restaurant management had a duty to maintain its premises in a safe condition and to warn restroom users of any known hazards.

The restaurant failed “to warn or adequately warn plaintiff of the danger of the mens’ room toilet, when defendant knew or should have known that the toilet was unreasonably dangerous, leaving Plaintiff unaware of the danger,” the complaint reads.

The complaint does not explain how or why the toilet exploded, or if the incident damaged property in the building or resulted in an insurance claim.

Kerouac is represented by attorney Scott Spradley, who was elected to the Flagler Beach City Commission earlier this year. Court records show it is the only legal action filed by Kerouac in Orange County in recent years.

Photo: (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)