Former firefighter claims oysters from a steakhouse caused him brain damage: lawsuit

Former firefighter claims oysters from a steakhouse caused him brain damage: lawsuit Joseph Belgio, 44, suffers from ‘severe cognitive deficits’ and will need ‘lifelong, around-the-clock care,’ his lawyer says - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A retired Illinois firefighter has filed a negligence lawsuit over the devastating brain damage that resulted after he was allegedly served contaminated oysters at a suburban Chicago restaurant. Joseph Belgio got very sick after eating the raw seafood at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook on June 30, 2025, and he went into cardiac arrest three days later, according to court papers obtained by The Independent. First responders rushed him to a hospital where he "required intensive medical intervention" that included treatment for a brain injury caused by a complete lack of oxygen, the lawsuit says. Belgio, a 44-year-old veteran of the Marine Corps, is now "confined to a bed at Hines VA Hospital, facing severe cognitive deficits and requiring lifelong, around-the-clock care," said his lawyer, Karen Arenas, according to WFLD-TV. "We are seeking accountability," Arenas added. In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the restaurant, owned by the Gibsons Restaurant Group of Chicago, said, “The impact of Mr. Belgio’s cardiac event is tragic. We recognize the seriousness of what he is facing and wish him a full recovery.” The statement also said that Gibsons takes “food safety extremely seriously,” no other illnesses have been reported, and “there is no evidence to suggest that our establishment caused his health condition.” Two seafood suppliers named as co-defendants didn’t immediately return inquiries from The Independent. Belgio has a one-year-old daughter, Carmela, with fiancée Melanie Stayer, according to a GoFundMe page that’s raised more than $85,000 to help pay for his long-term care. "I just want to make the best of what's happened, and I want my daughter to understand that her father is a fighter, in whichever form that comes," Stayer said, according to WFLD. Belgio was in a coma for months and has medical bills that already exceed $1 million, according to WBBM-TV. Belgio's lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges the oysters he ate were infected with bacteria including Vibrio cholerae. It causes cholera, which leads to as many as 143,000 deaths a year around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Court papers say the doctors who treated Belgio "determined to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that his illness, cardiac arrest, and resulting injuries were caused by consuming the contaminated raw oysters." The lawsuit also argues that a consumer advisory on the restaurant's menu was "generic and inadequate" because it didn't include a specific warning about eating raw oysters and shellfish. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] CardinalHealt RAILS