Massachusetts Case May Spur Food Allergy Lawsuits

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- In the wake of a landmark settlement, restaurants and other food service outlets may now have to go the extra mile to serve sensitive customers in order to avoid a lawsuit.

Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., is under orders to offer safer options after a student with Celiac disease complained that the school refused to exempt her from its meal plan but wouldn't serve gluten-free food.

The settlement could pave the way for people with allergies -- and other health conditions -- to sue businesses that are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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