Dunkin’ Donuts Customer Sues After Toilet Explosion Left Him Covered In Human Feces And Urine

After going to a Dunkin’ Donuts and enjoying your morning coffee, you might joke that you are going to go blow up the toilet.

Sure its crude, but coffee does gets things going in the morning.

But for one customer, a visit to Dunkin’ Donuts took an unexpected and unfortunate turn involving an actual toilet explosion.

Paul Kerouac, the affected customer, is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 from the company due to an incident in January 2022 that left him covered in urine and feces. 

He filed a lawsuit on January 3 in a state court in Orlando, citing 'severe long-term injuries' sustained from the exploding toilet at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Winter Park, Florida.

“Following the explosion of the toilet plaintiff emerged from the men’s room and sought assistance from employees and managers of [the] defendant’s business to clean himself, as he remained covered with human feces and urine after emerging from the men’s room,” the complaint states.

The complaint detailed how Kerouac emerged from the restroom seeking help from the staff to clean himself, as he was covered in waste. 

An employee even admitted to him that they were aware of the toilet's problematic history, as there had been similar incidents before. 

According to the lawsuit, the less-than-ideal incident has required mental health care and counseling for Kerouac. 

He claims to have suffered from 'bodily injury, psychological damages, permanent and significant emotional injury, mental anguish, and loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life'.

While it may seem challenging to sue a major brand like Dunkin’ Donuts, there is precedent for such cases resulting in compensation. 

For instance, a woman who experienced severe second and third-degree burns from a coffee spill at Dunkin' Donuts received a $3 million settlement. 

Her attorney, Benjamin Welch of Morgan & Morgan, explained that the spill in February 2021 was due to an improperly secured lid, resulting in burns on her thighs, groin, and abdomen. 

Post-incident, she has had to endure ongoing treatments, applying creams and ointments several times daily.

This precedent could potentially bode well for Mr. Kerouac in his pursuit of justice against Dunkin’ Donuts.