Exclusive | Woman claims she suffered horrific lifechanging injuries at glamorous LA dinner with friends

A woman claims she suffered horrific second-degree burns when her legs caught fire during a dinner at a trendy Downtown LA hibachi restaurant.

Angela Ciccone was dining with friends at the posh Maison Kasai on September 5 when a container of cooking oil held by the chef at her open-flame table caught fire, engulfing his arm and neck, according to a lawsuit filed in LA Superior Court.

Japanese hibachi-style dining, also known as ‘teppanyaki’, sees chefs theatrically cook meat, seafood and vegetables on a sizzling grill in front of guests, with flying utensils and culinary tricks.

“When Ms. Ciccone looked towards the floor, she saw that the floor and her legs were on fire,” the suit reads.

Ciccone claims she frantically rolled around and patted her legs in a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames, with a friend rushing to help.

“Emergency physicians diagnosed Ciccone with second-degree burns to both lower extremities. She received intravenous fluids, narcotics, and burn dressings,” the filing adds.

But while the chef was taken to another room by restaurant employees, Ciccone claims not a single staff member came to her aid.

Firefighters responded to a 911 call before Ciccone was rushed to the emergency room, “where she arrived that evening as a trauma activation,” according to the lawsuit.

Ciccone was transferred to a specialized burn center the following day, where she remained until September 17, according to the court papers.

She underwent surgery to remove damaged tissue and received skin grafts, with the lawsuit describing her agonizing recovery.

“Each dressing change was excruciatingly painful as it would rip off new skin on her legs,” the filing states.

The lawsuit claims Ciccone will be scarred for life.

A graphic photograph submitted with the lawsuit shows extensive burns to her legs.

Maison Kasai is located at Level 8, a collection of upscale restaurants and bars on the eighth floor of Downtown LA’s cool Moxy Hotel.

The lawsuit names Lightstone Parent LLC as a defendant and identifies the company as the restaurant’s owner.

Maison Kasai bills itself as “an elevated teppanyaki restaurant blending culinary virtuosity with performance art” on its website.

The menu features luxury dishes including A5 Kobe beef, Maine lobster, caviar and a Wagyu beef truffle burger.

Ciccone is seeking damages over her alleged physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, physical impairment, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life.

Lightstone Parent LLC and Maison Kasai were both contacted for comment.

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