A STEAKHOUSE diner lost an “important bodily function” after the toilet seat he was sat on broke beneath him, a lawsuit claims.
While paying a visit to the disabled bathroom of the well-known restaurant chain, the man claims the porcelain throne he was sat on “suddenly shattered and collapsed”.
The Florida man is now suing Outback Steakhouse for £37,000 after his ill-fated loo break at the Ocala venue in earlier this year.
Michael Green was visiting the Australian-themed diner on March 26 when he left his table to take a comfort break during his meal, the lawsuit claims.
The unfortunate incident left him with “permanent and significant scarring” from his fall.
The lawsuit also describes “significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function” from injuries sustained while he was attempting to relieve himself.
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Green has suffered a “loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life” as a result, the court records claim.
Green has accused the venue of negligence and failing to ensure the toilet was “properly secured to the floor.”
He also claimed it created “an unreasonably dangerous condition to members of the public.”
The lawsuit seeks to compensate the man for alleged pain, medical bills and lost wages as a result of the fall.
Outback Steakhouse has been approached for comment.
Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, Florida in 1998 and is known for its Australia-inspired menu including steaks, chicken and seafood.
The chain operates hundreds of restaurants across the US, though the popular steakhouse has struggled financially in recent years, shutting down 21 spots within a span of weeks – with even more slated for closure.
The strategic Outback Steakhouse shutdowns came as parent company Bloomin’ Brands planned to invest $50 million in turning around the restaurant brand.
Outback Steakhouse’s dismal financial performance pushed Bloomin’ Brands to turn off the lights at 21 of the Australian-themed casual dining chain’s underperforming locations in October, according to parent company CFO, Eric Christel.
MAKING A COMEBACK
Bloomin’ Brands’ move to reduce Outback Steakhouse’s restaurant footprint in the US comes as the company takes on a comprehensive turnaround strategy to help keep up with its rivals.
The company is planning to invest $75 million on a three-year turnaround plan, with the cash going towards improving steak quality, customer service, and marketing, as well as remodelling nearly all locations and simplifying the menu.
Roughly $50 million will be spent on the steakhouse chain’s overhaul in 2026, with about 50 percent of that to be spent on boosting food quality.
Having “exceptional” steak quality, taste, specifications, and accuracy are all a major focus in Outback Steakhouse’s turnaround, per the parent company’s earnings presentation.
Bloomin’ Brands CEO Mike Spanos said that Outback Steakhouse will invest more money on the quality and cuts of steaks, as well as make additional investments in cooking equipment such as its char-grill platform.
Roughly $7 million of its turnaround fund will go towards improving customer service by reducing the ratio of tables to servers from six tables to four during peak hours, the top boss said.
Bloomin’ Brands is also aiming to capitalize on Outback Steakhouse’s brand awareness by marketing the chain as a fun, casual steakhouse, with its spending on marketing to increase by around $10 million in 2026 and more the following years, per CFO Christel.
“We need to make Outback more relevant,” said the company CEO. “We have strong brand awareness and a tremendous opportunity to convert that awareness into restaurant visits.”
Additionally, Bloomin’ Brands is planning to up its spending on creating a strong operational culture at Outback Steakhouse as well as heavily investing in remodelling nearly all of its existing restaurants rather than spending money on opening new ones.
Customers will see brighter interiors, newly designed bars and seats, as well as smaller kitchens and expanded pickup areas, with the remodels to costs roughly $400,000 per location and be completed by the end of 2028.