A 63-year-old diner claims he was grievously injured after being thrown off an “improperly installed” toilet seat at a Waffle House restaurant in Pennsylvania, according to a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent.
In a 17-page complaint, Illinois resident John Brock says he was at Waffle House #1394 near Harrisburg when he went to use the restroom and encountered a “dangerous, hazardous, defective and/or otherwise unsafe condition consisting of an improperly installed toilet seat.”
“Upon information and belief, and unbeknownst to [Brock], the subject toilet seat was not bolted and/or improperly bolted to the toilet,” the complaint states. “As [Brock] was attempting to use the toilet, the toilet seat tipped over causing him to fall and sustain injuries and damages as further outlined below.”
The April 10, 2025 mishap left Brock with a laundry list of issues, some of which “may be permanent in nature,” the complaint contends:
a. Low back injury with bilateral SI (sacroiliac) joint involvement;
b. Low back pain and tenderness;
c. Bilateral SI joint pain and tenderness;
d. Lumbar radiculopathy;
e. Bilateral leg pain;
f. Numbness and tingling in the legs;
g. Limited range of motion in the low back;
h. Limited range of motion in the bilateral SI joints;
i. Limited range of motion in the legs;
j. Bilateral leg weakness;
k. Difficulty ambulating;
l. Right hand and wrist pain and swelling;
m. Reduced grip strength and function in the right hand;
n. Headaches;
o. Bruises, contusions and other injuries in and about nerves, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, tissues and vessels of the body; and
p. Nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression
Over the past 14 months, Brock has endured “great pain, suffering, inconvenience, embarrassment, [and] mental anguish” due to the incident, and has laid out large sums for “extensive medical, rehabilitative and therapeutic treatments,” the complaint continues, adding that his “general health, strength and vitality have been impaired,” and that he “has the potential for future surgical intervention.”
Further, the complaint goes on, Brock’s earning capacity has been diminished, and he is no longer able to “enjoy various pleasures of life that he previously enjoyed.”
“Mr. Brock is a hardworking individual whose life has been upended by the injuries he sustained, which forced him to retire early from his job as a truck driver,” attorney John Morgan, founder of law firm Morgan & Morgan, and attorney Erin Bock, told The Independent in an email. “He now faces challenges carrying out everyday tasks. We are committed to making our client whole again and holding Waffle House accountable for improving the safety at their premises.”
Waffle House and the attorney defending the chain against Brock’s claims did not respond to requests for comment.
Waffle House was negligent in allowing the toilet seat to become “damaged, dilapidated, loose, improperly mounted, unmounted and/or otherwise dangerous to people,” such as Brock, who would normally be expected to use the restroom while on the premises, according to the complaint, which was initially filed in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas before being removed to Harrisburg federal court on July 9.
