Marine Veteran Left Brain-Damaged After Eating Oysters, Lawsuit Claims
Joe Belgio, a Marine Corps veteran and retired Illinois firefighter, has spent more than a year hospitalized with permanent brain damage that a new lawsuit alleges was caused by contaminated oysters served at a Chicago-area steakhouse.
Belgio, 44, of Cicero, Illinois, fell severely ill days after eating raw oysters during a family celebration at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook on June 30, 2025, according to a complaint filed Monday, Aug. 10, and viewed by People. The lawsuit alleges he contracted Enteropathogenic E. coli, Plesiomonas shigelloides and Vibrio cholerae from the oysters, which led to a massive heart attack that caused an anoxic brain injury. He spent months in a coma and remains hospitalized at Edward Hines VA Hospital, requiring around-the-clock care.
A Family Celebration Turned Medical Crisis
Belgio's fiancée, Melanie Stayer, described the outing as an ordinary family gathering that changed everything. "This was a casual day with a casual man at a restaurant that he wanted to celebrate life with his family, and life can change so quickly," Stayer told ABC7 Chicago. The couple's daughter, Carmela, was five months old at the time.
Attorney Karen Arenas, who is representing Belgio, said the family is seeking accountability. "Today, this vibrant father is confined to a bed at Hines VA Hospital, facing severe cognitive deficits and requiring lifelong, around-the-clock care," Arenas said. Another attorney representing the family, O'Sullivan, described the severity of his condition. "He is most likely bedridden for the rest of his life," O'Sullivan said. "He is extremely brain damaged, with very little cognitive capacity, and will need care for the rest of his life."
The lawsuit states that Belgio's treating physicians determined "to a reasonable degree of medical certainty" that his illness, heart attack and subsequent injuries resulted from eating the oysters, and that he did not consume any other raw oysters or shellfish between the meal and his hospitalization. The suit names both Gibsons and Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company as defendants.
A Strength That Hasn't Faded
Despite the severity of his condition, those close to Belgio say his character remains unmistakable. "But even at his weakest, Joe remains the strongest man I've ever known," Stayer said, visibly emotional at a press conference announcing the lawsuit. "Joe has shown again and again that he is still here and that he is not finished." Stayer also described him warmly ahead of his hospitalization. "He's one of the rarest people you will ever meet in your life. He was a God-fearing man. Success to him was having a family," she said.
Family, friends and community members, including fellow firefighters, Marines and members of the local Little League community, have gathered in support of Belgio and are holding a fundraiser to help cover his continuing therapy, specialized brain-injury rehabilitation and ongoing medical needs.
Gibsons Disputes the Claims
A spokesperson for Gibsons Oak Brook pushed back on the allegations in a statement. "The impact of Mr. Belgio's cardiac event is tragic. We recognize the seriousness of what he is facing and wish him a full recovery," the statement read. "We take food safety extremely seriously, and providing a superior and safe dining experience is always our primary focus. There have been no other reported cases of illness. Based on the facts and our internal investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that our establishment caused his health condition. We are confident that a fair and thorough legal process will agree with this conclusion."
Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company has not responded to requests for comment.
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