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A popular Syracuse restaurant, Rise N Shine, is facing a lawsuit after an incident involving their Flaming French Toast dish allegedly injured a young customer. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, claims that a waitress at the diner on Westcott Street ignited the dish tableside, causing hot liquid to splash onto the face of a four-year-old girl, identified only by the initials Z.J., resulting in serious injuries. The girl's mother, Kristiaan Jackson, is seeking damages for her daughter's injuries and other related harms.
The restaurant, operated by Danielle Mercuri under Divine Diamond LLC, denies the allegations. Mercuri stated, "We firmly believe this incident did not take place at our establishment. We are ready to take any actions to fight against these accusations with our attorneys and see the truth come out in court."According to Syracuse.com, the lawsuit accuses the diner of negligence, recklessness, and carelessness, citing failures in maintaining a safe environment, properly training staff, and warning patrons about the dangers of hot items.
The incident reportedly occurred on February 24, 2023, and the Jackson family resides in Jefferson County, near Watertown and Fort Drum. The lawsuit does not specify the amount of monetary damages sought.