Marine veteran and ex-firefighter suffers permanent brain injury after eating oysters at Illinois steakhouse
Joe Belgio, a 44-year-old Marine Corps veteran and retired Illinois firefighter, developed lasting brain damage after consuming raw oysters at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook.
A lawsuit alleges that Marine veteran and retired firefighter Joe Belgio, 44, incurred irreversible brain damage after eating raw oysters at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook on June 30, 2025. Three days post-consumption, he experienced cardiac arrest, lost consciousness for at least eight minutes, and entered a months-long coma, emerging with severe cognitive deficits. His lawyer reports that medical testing identified Enteropathogenic E. coli and Plesiomonas shigelloides in his bloodstream, and the complaint also implicates seafood suppliers Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company.
Gibsons maintains that its internal investigation found no proof the establishment caused the illness and notes no other reported cases. A fundraising page launched in July 2025 has collected more than $85,000 to help cover his extensive medical expenses, which exceed $1 million.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential food-safety risks and legal accountability for restaurants and suppliers.
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