Ex-Jersey Shore Cop: I Drank An Atlantic City Beer That Nearly Killed Me

It took only one sip of draft beer at a N.J. restaurant for retired Lt. Richard Washart to believe that he had been poisoned.

But the former cop still can’t believe how close he came to death as a result of drinking beer drawn from a tap system line that may have contained a powerful caustic cleaning solution, according to a news release from Washart’s attorney, D’Amato Law Firm.

“I will never forget November 6, 2012, and how one minute we’re celebrating the success of our emergency medical services operation at the restaurant and then I’m violently throwing up blood, my mouth and stomach are burning, and I’m then hospitalized for one week,” Washart, an Ocean City Police Department veteran of 25 years, said in the news release.

“In my 25 years of police work, and during my time as a paramedic, I never saw anything like what happened to me at McCormick & Schmick’s in Harrah’s Atlantic City,” added Washart, who is now suing the establishment.

Washart continues to receive regular treatment for his injuries that includes the erosion of about 25 percent of his stomach lining, according to his doctors.

Determined to ensure that what happened to him never happens to another patron of any restaurant or bar, Washart retained the D’Amato Law Firm to investigate the events that led to his “poisoning and hold those responsible fully accountable,” according to the news release.

“Based on our investigation, and reflected in the complaint,” said Paul D’Amato, “we determined that Mr. Washart was seriously sickened and permanently injured due to the fact that the beer tap system at McCormick & Schmick’s was improperly maintained.”

A representative of the restaurant says the establishment denies responsibility, according to philly.com.

“McCormick & Schmick denies the baseless allegations made by Mr. D’Amato’s law firm in an attempt to posture and gain media attention on a case that was filed on his client’s behalf more than two years ago,” the statement said. “During the entire course of this litigation, Mr. Washart and his attorneys have been unable to provide a shred of evidence proving that McCormick & Schmick did anything wrong. Moreover, no other person who drank tap beer on that day experienced any issues. We will not allow the Plaintiff’s attorney to tarnish our good name over a frivolous lawsuit such as this, and remain very confident that we will prevail on the merits of this case.”

In the news release, D’Amato said the restaurant failed to purge the highly toxic cleaning solution from the line through which Washart’s draft beer was allegedly poured.”

“It was a poisoning waiting to happen and randomly it happened to Richard Washart,” he said.

Washart, whose wife, Cynthia, a nurse, helped get him to the hospital, said he hopes restaurants, bars, and beverage-servicing companies take their responsibilities to the public more seriously.

“I will never forget, not just the incredible burning sensation from my mouth to my stomach, but also being told how I could have died from drinking that beer,” he said in the relase.. “Two years and countless doctor visits later, I only wish it were a bad dream. It is a nightmare with which I live every day.”

Washart says he remains committed to continuing to serve the community through his work in emergency medical services, according to the release.