Bizarre, Society, Torts

That’s Why They Call It Sue-Shi: Los Angeles Man Sues Over Denial of All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Bar

There is an interesting case in Los Angeles where David Martin found an all-you-can-eat offer at a Sushi restaurant a bit fishy . . . or perhaps not fishy enough. Martin went to the Studio City restaurant to take advantage of the all you can eat deal for $28. However, because he is a diabetic, he proceeded to eat the fish and leave the rice. That led Restaurant owner Jay Oh to cry foul and demand that he either eat the rice with the fish or pay a la carte prices. That led Martin to file suit.

Oh says that the offer was for sushi not sashimi, which is just fish. The lawsuit could force the court to render a decision on common meaning of sushi as opposed to sashimi — a quintessential L.A. case. It reminds me of the New York case that turns on the meaning of “hacking the fish” at Jewish delis.

Martin is seeking at least $4,000 in damages for the “humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish.” He also claims that he was discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Source: LA Times

Jonathan Turley

39 thoughts on “That’s Why They Call It Sue-Shi: Los Angeles Man Sues Over Denial of All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Bar”

  2. Please be aware micHELLe is a professional blogger and get paid for comment, egging people on.

  3. I thought “sushi” meant “it’s sour” which came from the traditional way sushi used to be prepared, fermented fish preserved in salt. In the modern day, it seems to mean anything rolled up, it’s a style more than a definition of actual food. I too would think the restaurant could charge extra for sashimi instead of the entire roll. It would be like someone ordering a burger at an all you can eat burger joint, and not eating the bun… that man is having ground steak for dinner, not a burger… it is outside the definition of all you can eat “burgers”. That being said… look at this “sushi” style monstrosity!

  4. It certainly is not our fault you are fat, there ishobo, it’s your fault. 🙂

  5. @michellefrommadison

    “Ishobo, doesn’t matter that weight and appetite are not related.”

    —

    Then stop trying to make the connection. And stop talking about a subject you know nothing about.

  6. Sushi is not Sashimi. Sushi has rice. In fact, Sushi means the special rice.

    It was not all the sashimi you can eat.

    If you don’t want the sushi, order sashimi off the menu.

  7. Every all-you-can-eat sushi place I’ve ever been stipulates very clearly that you have to pay extra for what you order but don’t eat. Too simple.

  8. MFM,

    I am sure you have eaten enough fruits and are a vegetable that our parents have warned us to stay away from….. I should be over weight based upon what I eat….I was blessed…..Oh wait is that Nancy Grace calling your name….. Please go and be at one…

  9. Ishobo, doesn’t matter that weight and appetite are not related. People that are overweight, fat, or obsess should not be a financial problem for those of us that can control things like their weight. Everyone overweight for their height should be banned from any outlet where food is readily available, both cooked or uncooked imo. until such time they provide a verifiable doctor’s statement that they are properly fit.

  10. Anonymously Yoursu, there are no meds needed for you to lose weight. All you have to do is intake less than you can burn off. Being overweight is your problem and should not cost me more money in managing your difficulties (if you are still overweight). Try fruits and vegetables over dead animals. 🙂

  11. MetroCowboy, are you insinuating that you are overweight?

    (there are many “plans” available for you to help you to easily lose weight if you need it. Do not become everyone else’s problem if you can not control your intake). 🙂

  12. Well, if the menu says that (re Bette Noir) I retract my objection. I don’t even see how he can claim discrimination for a disability. Some people are allergic to peanuts, it isn’t a restaurant’s obligation to provide a non-peanut oil recipe for them. What are they supposed to do, post that “sushi may contain rice”?

    If it is on the menu, the suit is ridiculous.

  13. Buddha,

    Honestly, I usually suspect WordPress. They’ve got a constant pressure to add new features, Youtube has their business model\content down.

    Which by the way is genius. Somebody figured out that people will submit to America’s Funniest Home Videos just for the attention, never-mind the prize money.

  18. Buddha,

    There’s a place down the street from me that does “Hawaiian Sushi” as well as the more traditional stuff. The fish gets flown in daily. Compared to the other near by sushi places (one of them uses farmed salmon), it’s amazing. I think it’d hold it’s own against most of the places in Seattle we used to go to.

  19. Since sushi is technically the rice and if they have the terms clearly posted as Bette Noir says, that would eliminate contractual obligation as a good basis for suit. However, Martin is suing for “humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish” and on the basis of discrimination against his disability. The first claim is of a sort traditionally hard to prove and the second will be difficult as the ADA addresses primarily accessibility and employment discrimination and not commercial transactions like dining in a public restaurant with clearly posted restrictions upon offers.

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