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Monday, January 09, 2006
"Mommy, My Apple Juice Tastes Funny"
"Well, honey, that's because the nice waiter decided to give you a Long Island Iced Tea instead."
Let's dive into the facts a little bit more. Seth took a sip of his "apple juice" from his kids' cup, and told his mom that it tasted funny. She told him to go ahead and drink it. He took another sip, and refused to drink any more. Mom opened the cup, took a whiff, and called over the waiter. The waiter said that the bartender must have done it, but the waiter is in charge of taking care of the kids' cup drinks. The manager came over, apologized to Mom, and offered to bring the check over to her.
The boy was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, where he was treated for dehydration (those bills were approximately $1000. Seth has had nightmares and fears dying now, and is receiving counseling (which is what the other $74,000 is for, I guess).
In no way does Applebees get off the hook. Personally, I'd contemplate filing child endangerment charges against the waiter if I was Seth's mom, but that's just me. Also, the idea that the manager didn't just shred the bill on the spot was callous and stupid.
But I don't believe that Applebees' staff's stupidity in any way caused Seth's fear of death or his nightmares. I'm pretty sure his mom took care of that all by herself. It never would have entered his little skull-full-of-mush that he could have died (if he had drank the entire cup). Someone had to tell him that.
Granted, she may not have told him directly. She may have expressed her (legitimate) fears within earshot of Seth (which is anywhere in the same building, it seems some days). None the less, she planted the fears in his head, and yeah, he's probably scared right now.
Should Applebees be held responsible for its employees' behavior? Oh, yeah. Should Mom be whacked upside the head for scaring her poor baby into counseling? Yup.
Cynthia Pereles said she took her (five-year-old) son Seth to dinner at the franchised restaurant (Applebees) in Battery Park City and ordered him an apple juice.He was taken to the hospital (by ambulance), had a .09 blood alcohol level, and was given fluids for dehydration. His mom is sueing Applebees for $75, ooo for medical expenses and emotional damage.
Pereles said she did not realize her son was drinking a concoction of white rum, gin, vodka, triple sec, Coke and sweet-and-sour mix until it was too late. The boy's eyes became glazed and he began to laugh uncontrollably, according to a report.
Let's dive into the facts a little bit more. Seth took a sip of his "apple juice" from his kids' cup, and told his mom that it tasted funny. She told him to go ahead and drink it. He took another sip, and refused to drink any more. Mom opened the cup, took a whiff, and called over the waiter. The waiter said that the bartender must have done it, but the waiter is in charge of taking care of the kids' cup drinks. The manager came over, apologized to Mom, and offered to bring the check over to her.
The boy was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, where he was treated for dehydration (those bills were approximately $1000. Seth has had nightmares and fears dying now, and is receiving counseling (which is what the other $74,000 is for, I guess).
In no way does Applebees get off the hook. Personally, I'd contemplate filing child endangerment charges against the waiter if I was Seth's mom, but that's just me. Also, the idea that the manager didn't just shred the bill on the spot was callous and stupid.
But I don't believe that Applebees' staff's stupidity in any way caused Seth's fear of death or his nightmares. I'm pretty sure his mom took care of that all by herself. It never would have entered his little skull-full-of-mush that he could have died (if he had drank the entire cup). Someone had to tell him that.
Granted, she may not have told him directly. She may have expressed her (legitimate) fears within earshot of Seth (which is anywhere in the same building, it seems some days). None the less, she planted the fears in his head, and yeah, he's probably scared right now.
Should Applebees be held responsible for its employees' behavior? Oh, yeah. Should Mom be whacked upside the head for scaring her poor baby into counseling? Yup.
