A Florida man has filed a negligence lawsuit against an Outback Steakhouse, saying a toilet in the restaurant’s handicap stall “shattered and collapsed” beneath him on March 26, causing a fall and serious injuries at the chain’s Ocala location.
The complaint, filed Dec. 9 in Marion County, names Michael Green as the plaintiff and seeks damages exceeding $50,000. Green alleges the toilet had been improperly secured or maintained and that the restaurant failed to warn customers about a hazardous condition. The case surfaces as Outback and parent company Bloomin’ Brands work through a broader turnaround marked by recent closures and planned investments. No hearing has been scheduled, and the company has not publicly detailed its response to the allegations.
According to the filing, Green left his table at the Outback at 3215 SW College Rd. and used the handicapped stall in the men’s restroom. While seated, the toilet “suddenly shattered and collapsed,” the complaint says, sending him to the floor. The lawsuit claims Green suffered “significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function,” along with scarring and ongoing pain. It also cites medical expenses and lost wages tied to the incident. “It happened fast, and it hurt,” Green told friends after the incident, according to the filing, which does not specify the exact injuries. A manager’s report was not included with the civil complaint, and security video, if any exists, is not described.
The lawsuit alleges the Ocala restaurant failed to properly secure, install or maintain the toilet and did not inspect the fixture to ensure it could safely support guests. It says staff did not place warnings or restrict access before the incident and contends the restaurant “knew or should have known” the fixture posed a risk. The filing lists bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, and diminished capacity to enjoy life. Green asks for damages of more than $50,000, plus costs and interest. The complaint does not list a specific manufacturer or model of the toilet and does not indicate whether the fixture has been removed, repaired or examined by an expert.
Records identify the location as a freestanding Outback along a busy commercial corridor near Interstate 75. Outback, founded in 1988 and owned by Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands, has spent the past year closing underperforming restaurants while laying out a multi-year plan to upgrade menus, operations and dining rooms. The company said earlier this year that 21 underperforming Outback locations had closed as part of the effort. Executives have described plans to invest tens of millions of dollars in food quality, equipment and remodeling, with much of the work slated to ramp up in 2026. The lawsuit does not link the restroom fixture to the company’s broader cost-cutting or upgrade plans.
On procedure, the case was filed in circuit court in Ocala and assigned to a civil division; a summons for Outback Steakhouse of Florida, LLC was issued after filing. As of this week, no trial date appears on the docket. The complaint demands a jury trial and accuses the company of negligence. It does not include counts for product liability, and the filing does not name a contractor or plumbing service as a co-defendant. The court will next set deadlines for the company’s formal response and for initial case management. Any independent inspections of the restroom fixture would typically be handled during discovery if the lawsuit proceeds.
Customers who visited the restaurant in late March described a brief closure of the men’s restroom after the incident, according to the complaint’s narrative. The filing quotes Green as saying the collapse left him shaken and in pain. “It wasn’t something you expect at a sit-down place,” the complaint says he told relatives. A spokesperson for Bloomin’ Brands did not immediately respond Thursday to questions about maintenance protocols, inspection schedules or whether the company has offered to cover medical bills. Workers at nearby businesses said the location remained open after the incident and appeared to operate normally through the spring and summer.
As of Thursday, the restaurant remains open and the lawsuit is pending. The next milestone is the company’s formal answer or motion in court, expected after service and scheduling by the Marion County clerk.
Author note: Last updated January 1, 2026.