A California neurologist is suing a Thai restaurant, claiming she suffered permanent injuries after eating a spicy dish that she described as “unfit for human consumption.”

 

Harjasleen Walia, a San Jose-based doctor, is demanding over US$35,000 (approximately 1.16 million baht) in damages after an order of Dragon Balls at Los Gatos’ Coup de Thai allegedly left her with chemical burns.

 

The notorious Dragon Balls—a fiery appetizer made with chicken, herbs, and Thai chili—was at the centre of the drama. Walia claims the dish caused “irreversible” damage to her vocal cords, throat, and nose, leaving her with burns from the intense spice.

 

“She incurred permanent injuries and will forever be damaged,” according to the lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

 

On a July 2021 visit to the restaurant, Walia requested the dish be made less spicy due to her low tolerance. But she says that upon taking a bite, her “mouth, throat, and nose burned like fire,” leading to immediate coughing and watering eyes. Despite pleading for dairy products like yoghurt to cool the burning sensation, staff allegedly offered no remedy.

 

 

At the heart of the lawsuit is the bird’s eye chilli, a pepper known to pack a punch with up to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units—about 40 times hotter than a jalapeño. Walia’s legal team claims the restaurant “negligently failed to test the heat intensity” and did not warn about the risks of using such spicy ingredients.

 

Coup de Thai has denied responsibility, with a restaurant supervisor stating that Dragon Balls can’t be made mild as the chilli is already mixed in. The jury trial is set for August 2025, with the restaurant seeking medical records to support Walia’s claims, reported Daily Mail UK.

 

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of New York Post

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-10-24

 

 

An American doctor... 

And ordering a super spicy dish and finding out that it is super spicy, it seems she is not the smartest cookie in the jar.  

Someone that apparently doesn't order spicy food much, decides to order a very spicy dish ... oh well.

 

Think she would have just sampled a very small piece, before eating enough to cause her discomfort.

 

Poor comparison in the blip, comparing with one of the mildest peppers,   Even the Cayenne pepper is 5 to 10X spicier than a Jalapeno pepper, but only half as spicy as Thai Bird's Eye pepper

 

50k vs 100k on the Scoville scale.

 

edit:  think they named the wrong dish in blip ...

She sued only for $35,000, she can't be American.

10 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It sees she thinks she is in the USA.

 

She is in the USA. The restaurant is in Los Gatos, California, and the lawsuit was filed in a California court.

 

Quote

And ordering a super spicy dish and finding out that it is super spicy, it seems she is not the smartest cookie in the jar.

 

Agreed. WTF.

Probably a liberal. 

She is right as most restaurants do not even bother to ask the foreigner if they want it very spicy or not to spicy. Depending on their mood of the day, even if you ask, they answer just with the usual "No can Do". Happens all the time in Hua Hin restaurants.

5 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

She is right as most restaurants do not even bother to ask the foreigner if they want it very spicy or not to spicy. Depending on their mood of the day, even if you ask, they answer just with the usual "No can Do". Happens all the time in Hua Hin restaurants.

Hua Hin is a long way from California

17 minutes ago, flexomike said:

Hua Hin is a long way from California

And California is a long way from Thailand, so what makes this an important news article to be featured in a Thai forum? 

Scammer with a bad attitude...

 

https://nypost.com/2024/10/16/us-news/california-doctors-lawsuit-over-spicy-thai-food-heads-to-jury-trial-as-new-details-emerge/

 

3 minutes ago, NowNow said:

Scammer with a bad attitude...

 

https://nypost.com/2024/10/16/us-news/california-doctors-lawsuit-over-spicy-thai-food-heads-to-jury-trial-as-new-details-emerge/

 

 

You should read Yelp reviews 

She should stick to Tandoori or pizza.

Spicy food can lead to colon cancer and other issues with age. Usually there are no symptoms during the process, Ban all spicy food and at the restaurant make sure they understand your request. If not, don't go back if they fuss or pretend not to understand.

I'm not surprised.  America is the land of lawsuits.  Remember the McD hot coffee lawsuit.  Also, remember the DC Judge who sued a dry clearner for over a million because his clothing was ruined.  

 

The restaurant will have to hire a lawyer to defend or negotiate a settlement.  That is unless suit is dismissed. The biggest common denominator is: Lawyers.  Amereica has way too many lawyers chasing $$$. 

2 hours ago, Sigmund said:

She is right as most restaurants do not even bother to ask the foreigner if they want it very spicy or not to spicy. Depending on their mood of the day, even if you ask, they answer just with the usual "No can Do". Happens all the time in Hua Hin restaurants.

Sometimes my missus is literally in pain but down it goes. You don't want spicy you have to tell them otherwise you just might get the Thai/Issan version.

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

 

You should read Yelp reviews 

Yelp? Any different than Trustpilot, Facebook, Booking etc etc?

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

California doctor claims spicy Thai dish left her with chemical burns

She’s a doctor and should have known full well that the chemical in chili is Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide). 

This one Thai restaurant here has a log book.  You have to write your name and they enter the slice level.   You have to have 5 entries before they let you order level 5.   

100k scoville not all that high.  Some peppers 10x that.    My wife will be breathing funny, nose and eyes watering as she eats her som Tom.  She says it gives her energy.   I just think it's a good time for a BJ

Oh, obviously one dragon ball short of a portion…

4 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Spicy food can lead to colon cancer and other issues with age. Usually there are no symptoms during the process, Ban all spicy food and at the restaurant make sure they understand your request. If not, don't go back if they fuss or pretend not to understand.

If you don't want to eat spicy food, it is probably not a good idea to go to a restaurant that serves spicy food.

 

I have eaten Thai food in the UK, France and Germany and most of the food tastes completely different to the same dish in Thailand.

6 hours ago, Artisi said:

And California is a long way from Thailand, so what makes this an important news article to be featured in a Thai forum? 

No one said that it was important news but the subject is obviously of interest to some in Thailand, particularly expats on a predominantly Thai forum.

4 hours ago, Elkski said:

I just think it's a good time for a BJ

 

Masochist much?

She got burned by a PRIC, obviously.

 

PRIC YI NOOOO

 

What is pric-yi-nu....anyway?

 

 

Deh-wah...

 

I doubt that this bird ever even tasted a decent prik.

I mean a prik ki nu.

 

A decent prik would have truly wasted her....

And she would have been in NO position to complain...

After downing one.

 

 

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

An American doctor... 

And ordering a super spicy dish and finding out that it is super spicy, it seems she is not the smartest cookie in the jar.  

 

This is just one more thing that is terrible about the American medical system.

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

an order of Dragon Balls

She's looking for sexual pleasure.

Frustrated woman, probably isn't getting any. 

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

, claiming she suffered permanent injuries after eating a spicy dish

WHIMP 

She needs to ManUp. 

 

It's always pretty astonishing when people order a super spicy dish and then ask for it not spicy. It's kind of like going to Alaska, camping on a river, and deciding you're not going to eat any fish. Bizarre at best. Publicity seeking at worst. 

What do you expect if you eat a dragon’s balls.

4 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

Masochist much?

Should try a peppermint lifesaver! Oh, yeah.....

13 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

 

She is in the USA. The restaurant is in Los Gatos, California, and the lawsuit was filed in a California court.

 

 

Agreed. WTF.

Over 3 years aago?

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

Over 3 years aago?

From the BJ component of the thread, obviously got misplaced. And no, not a lifesaver over 3 years ago after eating food, it's for the present before she has husband's manhood for dessert.