Kucinich sues congressional cafeteria over 'dangerous' sandwich

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) filed a lawsuit against four contractors responsible for running the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria nearly three years after he bought a "dangerous" sandwich with an unpitted olive which he said broke his tooth.

According to the suit (.pdf), the cafeteria claimed that the sandwich had pitted olives, but when he bit in an found a pit, he "sustained serious and permanent dental and oral injuries."

The suit asked for $150,000 in damages for four counts negligence and breach of implied warranty.

"Said sandwich wrap was unwholesome and unfit for human consumption, in that it was represented to contain pitted olives, yet unknown to plaintiff contained an unpitted olive or olives which plaintiff did not reasonably expect to be present in the food prepared for him, and could not visually detect prior to consumption," the suit said.

"As a result of consuming said unfit and unwholesome food, plaintiff sustained serious and permanent dental and oral injuries requiring multiple surgical and dental procedures, and has sustained other damages as well, including significant pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment," the suit added.

Kucinich did not detail the cost of his surgical and dental procedures or what enjoyment he lost.

Gawker uncovered C-SPAN video of the congressman speaking on the House floor five days after the alleged accident, which might undermine his claim. In the video, he speaks without any indication that he has been injured.