Kucinich: My Life's The Pits

By Jessica Taylor  //  January 29, 2011 | 12:50 p.m.
Updated: February 1, 2011 | 6:55 a.m.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) would like his supporters to know that he has settled his lawsuit against the House cafeteria over an olive pit he bit into nearly three years ago - and he'd like them to know in excruciating detail the effects that wayward pit had on him.

Kucinich had been seeking $150,000 in damages from Restaurant Associates, which operated the Longworth Cafeteria where he bit into a sandwich wrap and cracked a tooth on an olive pit. In the original court filing, Kucinich's attorneys argued that the ""sandwich wrap was unwholesome and unfit for human consumption, in that it was represented to contain pitted olives."

In a Friday afternoon email to supporters, which was also posted to his campaign website, Kucinich mocks the media attention paid to his suit this week. The Cleveland congressman writes that he would "prefer to focus your attention on my work dealing with the profoundly importing issues of the nation, such as job creation, getting the economy back on track, and ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq - it pit.JPGseems that some are more interested in discussing my personal dental issues. Given the degree of public interest you should know some detail."

And detail them he does. Kucinich writes of how the pit caused his tooth to "split in half, vertically through the crown and the tooth, below the level of the bone." But, he adds, although the "pain was excruciating," he went back to work nonetheless. However, the tooth anchored his upper bridgework, forcing the bone above the tooth to become infected. As a result of that infection, he was prescribed antibiotics, but an "adverse reaction to the antibiotics caused him "to have an intestinal obstruction and emergency medical intervention."

After that ordeal, he was informed the tooth had to be removed, and he was fitted for a temporary partial. On second try, an implant was successful, but his bridgework had to be reconfigured, complete with a new partial that affected six teeth and required a new crown as well. And, Kucinich adds, "no dental expenses were covered by any health plan, nor did I have dental insurance that covered the injury, which, until it was resolved, affected my ability to chew food properly." Kucinich blames the "clamor for information" for the sudden wealth of information into his dental ordeal, but says while the case was still being mediated, he declined any interviews. But now, both parties have resolved that matter that "reflects the actual out-of-pocket expenses related to this incident. While the terms of the settlement are confidential, Kucinich says he feels "that the defendants have responded fairly and reasonably." Kucinich may well have odontophobia after the ordeal, adding, "I don't want to have to make another dental visit for a very long time, and will be making no further comment on this matter."

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