Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) announced today that he has settled his lawsuit against the company that runs the House cafeteria, which resulted from a 2008 tooth injury involving an olive in a sandwich wrap. And in his statement, he makes it very clear to the reader just how awful this injury was for him.
“The terms of the settlement are confidential; however, I feel that the defendants have responded fairly and reasonably,” Kucinich said at the conclusion of his press release. “I don’t want to have to make another dental visit for a very long time, and will be making no further comment on this matter.”
But that’s not all. Seeing as how Kucinich’s lawsuit was widely ridiculed in the media — for example, Roll Call quoted a tort reform lobbyist who openly declared, “If I’m the cafeteria ladies, I’m spitting in his food when I see him coming” — Kucinich felt it necessary to explain to the public that this truly was a serious injury, which involved many, many complications and many, many follow-up appointments.
Kucinich writes:
When I bit into the olive pit, (unbeknown to me at the time), upon impact the tooth split in half, vertically through the crown and the tooth, below the level of the bone. Externally there was no evidence of a break. This was not about aesthetics. The internal structure of the tooth was rendered nonrestorable. Although the pain was excruciating, I shook it off and I went right back to work.
This tooth is a key tooth which anchored my upper bridgework . The injured tooth and the bone above it became infected. I took a course of antibiotics for the infection, had an adverse reaction to the antibiotics which caused me to have an intestinal obstruction and emergency medical intervention.
Later, my dentist referred me to a specialist who informed me that the damaged tooth had to be removed. A third dentist removed the tooth and I was fitted for a temporary partial. I waited for the bone to heal. An implant was placed, but it failed. Many months later still a second implant succeeded. My bridgework had to be completely reconfigured, a new partial was designed, so this injury did not affect only one tooth, but rather involved six (6) replacement teeth as well. A new crown with a new precision attachment was engineered and put in place. To clarify, no dental expenses were covered by any health plan, nor did I have dental insurance that covered the injury, which, until it was resolved, affected my ability to chew food properly.
Kucinich also explains: “The clamor for information about this incident requires that I provide at least this much information. I would have liked to provide such details sooner but did not want it said that I was trying the case in the media. So that is why I declined any interviews about the matter.”
Perhaps the cafeteria got confused about Kucinich’s platform. As a proponent of establishing a cabinet-level Department of Peace, he is an avid supporter of the olive branch.
