A RESTAURANT has rejected the demand to pay a government lawyer P2 million after she allegedly swallowed bits of broken glass in a drink served to her last Jan. 6.
Mario Ortiz, counsel for Sunburst-SM City Cebu, called the demand “outrageous, uncalled for, and unjust.”
In the more than a decade that the outlet has been operating, Ortiz said, it was the first time such a complaint was brought to the owner’s attention.
“None of the waiters noticed any broken glass or glass chip inside the glass used by your client,” read Ortiz’s reply to the demand letter of Giovanni Luna, lawyer of complainant Maria Lourdes Bragat.
Santiago Ortiz, Jr., another lawyer for the restaurant, called the filing of Bragat’s case “a publicity stunt” and said the restaurant management was “baffled” that it took the complainant about six months to file her case.
“The unusual publicity she (Bragat) made is obviously intended to besmirch the reputation of one of Cebu’s popular eateries,” the statement read.
Bragat, who is a lawyer with the Public Attorney’s Office, filed a damage suit before the Regional Trial Court against Gramby Foods Inc., which operates the Sunburst outlet in SM City Cebu.
In her complaint filed in court last week, Bragat said she was sipping a glass of iced tea when she noticed bits of broken glass inside.
She said she called the attention of Hermie Dumaguit, the restaurant’s supervisor, and complained. Dumaguit examined the contents and confirmed there were bits of broken glass, Bragat also said.
A mall security representative arrived to take photos of the bits of broken glass for documentation, she added.
Upon a surgeon-friend’s advice, she went to a private hospital to undergo an endoscopy to check for internal injuries.
After she was discharged, Bragat said, she continued her medication for seven days and used her own money to buy the medicines.
She has asked the court to order the firm to pay her P1 million in moral damages, P1 million in exemplary damages and P50,000 in attorney’s fees.
Replying to Bragat’s demand, Atty. Ortiz told lawyer Luna that Dumaguit, the restaurant supervisor, just took the complainant’s word for it that there was a glass chip in her iced tea.
The restaurant supervisor also accompanied Bragat to the hospital upon her request, said Ortiz.
“Your client’s medical examination report and X-ray pictures do not show any glass chip or sliver of glass,” read Ortiz’s reply, a copy of which was furnished to Sun.Star Cebu.
The lawyer said the complainant’s “esophagitis” and “gastric erosion” might have been caused by other factors.
“If you honestly think you have a million-peso case, we’ll meet you in court,” read Ortiz’s reply.
A RESTAURANT has rejected the demand to pay a government lawyer P2 million after she allegedly swallowed bits of broken glass in a drink served to her last Jan. 6.
Mario Ortiz, counsel for Sunburst-SM City Cebu, called the demand “outrageous, uncalled for, and unjust.”
In the more than a decade that the outlet has been operating, Ortiz said, it was the first time such a complaint was brought to the owner’s attention.
“None of the waiters noticed any broken glass or glass chip inside the glass used by your client,” read Ortiz’s reply to the demand letter of Giovanni Luna, lawyer of complainant Maria Lourdes Bragat.
Santiago Ortiz, Jr., another lawyer for the restaurant, called the filing of Bragat’s case “a publicity stunt” and said the restaurant management was “baffled” that it took the complainant about six months to file her case.
“The unusual publicity she (Bragat) made is obviously intended to besmirch the reputation of one of Cebu’s popular eateries,” the statement read.
Bragat, who is a lawyer with the Public Attorney’s Office, filed a damage suit before the Regional Trial Court against Gramby Foods Inc., which operates the Sunburst outlet in SM City Cebu.
In her complaint filed in court last week, Bragat said she was sipping a glass of iced tea when she noticed bits of broken glass inside.
She said she called the attention of Hermie Dumaguit, the restaurant’s supervisor, and complained. Dumaguit examined the contents and confirmed there were bits of broken glass, Bragat also said.
A mall security representative arrived to take photos of the bits of broken glass for documentation, she added.
Upon a surgeon-friend’s advice, she went to a private hospital to undergo an endoscopy to check for internal injuries.
After she was discharged, Bragat said, she continued her medication for seven days and used her own money to buy the medicines.
She has asked the court to order the firm to pay her P1 million in moral damages, P1 million in exemplary damages and P50,000 in attorney’s fees.
Replying to Bragat’s demand, Atty. Ortiz told lawyer Luna that Dumaguit, the restaurant supervisor, just took the complainant’s word for it that there was a glass chip in her iced tea.
The restaurant supervisor also accompanied Bragat to the hospital upon her request, said Ortiz.
“Your client’s medical examination report and X-ray pictures do not show any glass chip or sliver of glass,” read Ortiz’s reply, a copy of which was furnished to Sun.Star Cebu.
The lawyer said the complainant’s “esophagitis” and “gastric erosion” might have been caused by other factors.
“If you honestly think you have a million-peso case, we’ll meet you in court,” read Ortiz’s reply.
Resto rejects public lawyer’s P2-M bid
Posting Permissions
