A retired Cicero firefighter and Marine veteran has filed a lawsuit against a well-known Chicago steakhouse.
In the lawsuit, 44-year-old Joe Belgio alleges he contracted a bacterial infection and suffered a “permanent and debilitating brain injury” as a result of consuming contaminated oysters at Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse in Oak Brook on June 30, 2025.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consuming raw oysters and other undercooked seafood can put you at risk for infections, including vibriosis.
According to the lawsuit, the Gibsons menu contained “a general consumer advisory,” which is required under FDA code, but that it did not go far enough to warn customers of the severity of foodborne illness.
The lawsuit stated the “advisory was generic and inadequate because it did not specifically warn about the risks associated with consuming raw oysters or raw shellfish, including infection with Vibrio cholerae, Plesiomonas shigelloides, and Enteropathogenic E. coli, or the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, cardiac arrest, and brain injury.”
Belgio’s attorney discussed the suit at a press conference on Monday.
“The food industry knows that raw oysters carry life-threatening risks like Vibrio. However, the general public does not fully understand how catastrophic these risks truly are,” attorney Karen Arenas said.
Most Vibrio infections from oysters result in only diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC, but some infections from oysters, such as those caused by Vibrio vulnificus, can be severe.
“Some people are at an increased risk of developing serious illness. People who have liver disease, people who are weak immune system or taking immunosuppressant drugs for cancer or HIV,” said Dr. Oluwadamilola Adeyemi, an infectious disease physician at Endeavor Health.
“You can’t tell by looking at the raw oyster to know if it’s infected,” Adeyemi added.
The way to kill harmful bacteria in oysters is to cook them thoroughly.
“If I have patients who are immunocompromised, that’s a big no-no from me,” Adeyemi said.
In a statement, a Gibsons spokesperson said they recognize the seriousness of what Belgio is facing and wished him a full recovery.
It goes on to say, “there have been no other reported cases of illness. Based on the facts and our internal investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that our establishment caused his health condition. We are confident that a fair and thorough legal process will agree with this conclusion.”