Suit pits Kucinich, cafeteria over olive

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court pits Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, against a Capitol complex cafeteria operator over an olive pit.

Kucinich is suing Restaurant Associates, which operates the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria, its parent company and two food suppliers over an olive pit he bit into that resulted in "serious and permanent dental and oral injuries," USA Today reported.

Court documents indicate the Ohio liberal seeks $150,000 in damages.

USA Today said when it called the Cleveland law office for Andrew Young, Kucinich's attorney, the person who answered said, "No comment."

In his suit, Kucinich alleges the defendants served him food "that was unwholesome and unfit for human consumption" because it "contained dangerous substances."

Kucinich bought a wrap containing the olive pit in April 2008. He said the cafeteria claimed the sandwich had pitted olives, Courthouse News Service said. After biting the pit, the lawsuit said, the congressman sustained injuries "requiring multiple surgical and dental procedures, and has sustained other damages as well, including significant pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment."