Customer claiming he cracked tooth on a piece of metal in burger sues

GRETNA – A local restaurant is being sued by a man who claims he cracked his tooth when he bit into a piece of metal in a hamburger.

Paul J. LeBlanc filed suit against Lee’s Original Hamburger’s of New Orleans II LLC and Reinhardt Foodservice LLC in the 24th Judicial District Court on Oct. 31.

LeBlanc alleges he was a patron of the Lee’s Hamburgers located at 2450 Severn Ave. in Metairie on Nov. 3, 2012. The plaintiff asserts after he picked up food from the defendant he went home and began to eat a hamburger and was nearly finished with it when he bit down on a hard object and felt a sharp pain. LeBlanc claims he discovered the hard object was a piece of metal embedded in the hamburger, which he took a photo of and called the restaurant manager to complain about. The plaintiff alleges that due to the incident he cracked one of his teeth.

The defendant is accused of not ensuring the ground beef did not contain metal, negligence in food preparation and not removing injurious substance from food.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for the damaged tooth, pain and suffering and the cost to repair the cracked tooth.

LeBlanc is represented by attorney Richard E. Anderson of Metairie.

The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Raymond S. Steib Jr.

Case no. 732-553.