The eighth floor of a downtown LA hotel sounds like an ideal setting for a theatrical teppanyaki dinner. According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Angela Ciccone’s September 5, 2026, meal at Maison Kasai ended with flames spreading across the floor and onto her legs. The complaint names the restaurant and its alleged owner, Lightstone Parent LLC, as defendants. No court has adjudicated these claims.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint describes a chain of events that began at an open-flame table and ended with a diner’s legs on fire.
Court documents allege that a chef was handling cooking oil at an open-flame table when the oil ignited, engulfing the chef’s arm and neck before fire spread to Ciccone’s legs. She allegedly attempted to extinguish the flames herself — rolling and patting her legs while a friend helped. Per the filing, restaurant staff attended to the injured chef but did not come to Ciccone’s aid before firefighters responded to a 911 call.
The complaint details the medical fallout:
- Emergency physicians diagnosed second-degree burns on both lower extremities
- Treatment allegedly included IV fluids, narcotic pain medication, burn dressings, surgery to remove damaged tissue, and skin grafts
- Ciccone was transferred to a specialized burn center the day after the incident
- She remained there until September 17, according to the complaint
- The lawsuit claims permanent scarring, disfigurement, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
Maison Kasai markets itself as elevated teppanyaki — blending Japanese and French technique with tableside performance — operating eight floors above Figueroa Street at 1254 South Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles. That performance-driven premise is precisely what makes the alleged safety failure so pointed. Open-flame tableside cooking is central to the restaurant’s entire concept and appeal.
The complaint further alleges that the injuries caused severe pain, physical impairment, humiliation, and permanent disfigurement. Ciccone is seeking damages across all those categories — physical pain, emotional suffering, disfigurement, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life. Maison Kasai and Lightstone Parent LLC were contacted for comment; no response has been reported by outlets covering the filing.
When the Show Itself Is the Risk
The allegations raise a pointed question about guest-safety obligations in restaurants where open-flame performance is the main event.
When a restaurant’s signature offering is theatrical fire, managing that fire is not a back-of-house detail — it is the core responsibility. The alleged failure to contain the flames, and then to assist the guest who was burning, sits at the heart of this case.
