Artichokes may be off the menu for some Thanksgiving feasts this year after people learn that a Miami doctor is suing a local restaurant for pain he experienced following consumption of the entire artichoke.
 
Arturo Carvajal filed a lawsuit against national restaurant chain Houston's, essentially claiming the restaurant was responsible for his pain because employees didn't tell him that he was supposed to eat the soft meat located on the inside of the artichoke leaves, not the entire thing. According to the lawsuit, a server suggested the grilled artichoke to Carvajal, who responded he had never seen or even heard of an artichoke, but decided to order it anyway. At no point, the lawsuit states, did the waiter tell Carvajal how to eat the dish. 
 
After eating the entire artichoke, thorny leaves and all, Carvajal experienced severe abdominal pain and had to go to the hospital. Doctors found artichoke leaves lodged in his small bowel and had to perform surgery to remove them.
 
"Arturo Carvajal suffered bodily injury, resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life..." states the lawsuit.  Carvajal is seeking at least $15,000 in damages.
 
Glenn Viers, attorney for the restaurant chain, told Business Insurance, “It's just kind of a silly notion. …  What's next? Are we going to have to post warnings on our menu they shouldn't eat the bones in our barbecue ribs?” 
 
—Source:  MSNBC.com