CHICAGO — A woman is suing Hamada of Japan Corp., alleging her husband died after suffering an allergic reaction to steam rising from seafood being cooked nearby at the company's restaurant in Tinley Park.

Lynette Smith, special administrator of the estate of James O. Smith, filed a complaint on April 2 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging wrongful death and that the defendant failed to provide a safe eating environment.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges the restaurant knew of James Smith's allergies, yet allowed an employee to cook seafood near him, causing him to suffer a severe allergic reaction from breathing in allergens from steam. The complaint said he required immediate medical attention, and eventually died.

The plaintiff seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount greater than $50,000 plus court costs. She is represented by Jacquelyn A. Fernandez Leyva of the Vrdolyak Law Group LLC in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number 2018L003297