A Marine veteran and firefighter is suffering from severe, permanent brain damage after allegedly consuming contaminated oysters at Gibson’s Bar and Steakhouse in Oak Brook, Illinois, according to a product liability lawsuit filed in Cook County Court.
Joe Belgio, 44, visited the steakhouse in June 2025 with his fiancée, Melanie Stayer, and their infant daughter. He ate raw oysters at the restaurant and subsequently contracted pathogens, the lawsuit states.
In early July 2025, Belgio experienced a cardiac arrest and was without oxygen for at least eight minutes before being resuscitated. His attorneys reported that this period led to an anoxic brain injury, leaving him in a coma for months. He is now described as mentally disabled, bedridden, and requiring round-the-clock care.
The lawsuit names Gibson’s Bar and Steakhouse, its parent company Gibsons Restaurant Group, Supreme Lobsters and Seafood Company, Taylor Shellfish Company, and five unidentified individuals as defendants. Attorneys for Belgio assert that medical professionals determined with reasonable certainty that the pathogens causing his illness were contracted from the restaurant's oysters. The pathogens identified are Enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC) and Plesiomonas shigelloides, both associated with shellfish contamination.
Stayer, Belgio's fiancée, spoke at a press conference announcing the lawsuit, emphasizing his strength and resilience. She noted his background as a deployed Marine and a firefighter, stating, "This is a man who deployed. He ran into burning buildings, and you thought he was out of the line of fire, and really, he wasn't."
Belgio's medical care has resulted in seven-figure expenses, and the lawsuit seeks compensation to cover these mounting costs. A GoFundMe campaign to assist with his medical care highlights Belgio's dedication to service as an ex-Marine and firefighter who has protected others and served his country, including a tour of duty in Iraq.
Gibsons Restaurant Group issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy of Belgio's cardiac event and wishing him a full recovery. The company stated that it takes food safety extremely seriously and that providing a safe dining experience is a primary focus. Gibsons Restaurant Group also noted that there have been no other reported cases of illness and that their internal investigation found no evidence to suggest the establishment caused his health condition. They expressed confidence that a thorough legal process would support this conclusion.
