A husband and wife filed a lawsuit on Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court against The Box House Hotel, alleging that food served at their November 30, 2024, wedding reception caused a norovirus outbreak. Attorney Michael Ahern and his spouse claim they and more than 30 of their 112 guests became ill after consuming items prepared by the hotel's on-site restaurant, the Brooklyn Lantern. The couple is seeking unspecified damages following a New York City Department of Health investigation into the event.
The litigation follows a September 2025 report by the city health department, which concluded the outbreak was likely caused by food contaminated by a norovirus-positive food handler. According to the complaint, the Aherns paid approximately $30,000 for the catering. Investigators identified three specific menu items—prosciutto, macaroni-and-cheese croquettes, and a seasonal crumble—that were consumed by all of those who fell ill. The health department report also noted sanitation deficiencies, including a lack of hand soap in the kitchen and bar areas.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for The Box House Hotel stated that the facility cooperated fully with health officials and has since retrained staff on handwashing and illness reporting. The spokesperson noted that the restaurant has maintained an "A" inspection rating since the incident and suggested the virus could have originated elsewhere, citing a widespread norovirus presence in New York City during that period. They also noted that the wedding party brought in outside food, such as pizza and cake, which was served during the weekend's events.
The financial scale of the event was reported at $30,000 for catering alone, illustrating the high costs associated with boutique hospitality services in Brooklyn, where room rates can reach several thousand dollars for a penthouse suite. For the general public and small-business owners in the hospitality industry, the case highlights the potential legal and financial consequences of food-safety violations. A single outbreak can lead to litigation, city-mandated disinfection, and the requirement for comprehensive staff retraining, as seen in the hotel’s response to the health department’s findings.
The case also sets a precedent regarding how courts may weigh the responsibility of a specific venue against the background prevalence of a virus in a major metropolitan area. While the city health department cited a positive test from a food handler and kitchen soap deficiencies, the hotel’s defense rests on the "rampant spread" of norovirus across New York City at the time and the presence of outside food sources. The Box House Hotel has approximately three weeks to file a formal answer in court, which will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings.
Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness typically transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The lawsuit claims the hotel breached its duty to maintain sanitary conditions, while the hotel maintains it has hosted nearly 1,000 events over 15 years without prior outbreaks. The final outcome will depend on the trial, where a judge or jury will evaluate the evidence regarding the source of the contamination.