BROOKLYN, New York — Michael Ahern and his wife expected their $30,000 wedding reception at The Box House in Greenpoint to be the beginning of a happy new chapter.
Instead, the newlyweds and dozens of their guests allegedly spent the days afterward battling repeated episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.
A new lawsuit claims food served during the Nov. 30, 2024, wedding reception was contaminated with norovirus, a highly contagious stomach virus known for causing sudden and severe gastrointestinal illness.
The couple’s lawsuit says the celebration they had spent heavily on was effectively ruined when they and other guests became sick.
“Instead of beginning their marriage by celebrating with family and friends … [they] spent the days following their wedding suffering from the debilitating effects of the norovirus outbreak caused by food served at their reception,” the lawsuit alleges.
Newlyweds and 30 Guests Allegedly Fell Ill
The illness reportedly extended far beyond the bride and groom. According to court papers, 30 of the 112 people who attended the reception developed similar symptoms after the wedding.
Ahern and his wife reportedly submitted stool samples to authorities and tested positive for norovirus.
The lawsuit also points to several foods that were consumed by guests who later became sick. Those foods included prosciutto, macaroni-and-cheese croquettes and a “seasonal crumble” dessert.
The allegations have turned what should have been a memorable celebration into a legal battle over what caused so many people to become ill.
Norovirus can spread easily, including through contaminated food or contact with infected people, making it particularly difficult to determine the exact source of an outbreak.
Health Department Investigation Raises More Questions
A city Department of Health report reviewed the outbreak and found that one employee at the Brooklyn Lantern, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, had tested positive for norovirus around the same time.
However, the report also noted that the employee had not prepared any of the dishes that allegedly sickened the wedding guests. The health department ultimately did not establish exactly how the virus was transmitted.
According to the report, “specific food vehicles as a mode of transmission remain undetermined for this outbreak.”
That finding leaves an important question unresolved: whether the food served at the reception was definitively responsible for the illnesses.
Hotel Says It Is Sorry Guests Got Sick
The Box House acknowledged the situation and expressed regret that guests became ill after the wedding.
A spokesperson for the hotel told the Independent that the hotel was sorry guests got sick and said staff had been retrained on cleanliness standards.
“It was meant to be one of the best nights of their lives and it wasn’t, and we understand why that still stings,” the spokesperson said.
However, the hotel also disputed the certainty surrounding the alleged source of the outbreak.
According to the spokesperson, norovirus was circulating throughout New York City at the time. The spokesperson also claimed that some food had been brought into the event from outside the venue.
Those factors have added another layer of uncertainty to the investigation and lawsuit.
Restaurant Denies Previous or Later Norovirus Cases
The Brooklyn Lantern, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, also addressed the allegations. A spokesperson for the Lantern said there had been no other instances of norovirus at the restaurant before or after the alleged outbreak.
The health department’s findings similarly did not definitively identify the restaurant or a specific dish as the source of transmission.
For the Aherns, however, the experience remains tied to one of the most important celebrations of their lives.
Instead of spending the days following their wedding surrounded by family and friends, the newlyweds say they were dealing with debilitating illness alongside many of their guests.
The lawsuit now seeks to establish what caused the outbreak and who should ultimately be held responsible.
Would you still trust a wedding venue after an outbreak like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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