A federal judge in New York dismissed a lawsuit from a German tourist who was demanding $100,000 in damages from a well-known taco chain. The tourist claimed that the restaurant's green sauce caused him physical and mental harm for being “too spicy,” local media reported this week. Faycal Manz, an engineer from Schemmerhofen (southern Germany), filed the complaint against the restaurant Los Tacos No. 1 in Times Square after a trip made in August 2024. According to the plaintiff, after just one bite of his taco, he suffered severe symptoms that included tachycardia recorded by his smartwatch. “For someone who lives in Germany and doesn't eat anything spicy, this was a great physical and mental ‘shock’,” Manz argued in the court documents, calling the sauce “dangerous.” However, District Judge Dale Ho rejected the tourist's claims, emphasizing that establishments have no legal obligation to warn about the inherent risks of spiciness in products that are, by their nature, expected to be spicy. “Indeed, when it comes to salsa, the spiciness is often the reason for its existence,” the magistrate wrote in his 12-page ruling, adding that a quick Google search for “Mexican food” would have been enough for the plaintiff to understand the risks. The lawsuit against the taquería is not the only legal front Manz has opened since his time in the United States. According to the outlet Gothamist, Manz sued a Walmart branch in New Jersey for discrimination, alleging he could not access the Wi-Fi network because the system required a local phone number. Manz later told that outlet that during a more recent visit to New Jersey, he was able to access with his German number, which he attributes directly to his legal pressure. Lastly, he is suing the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for $10 million after witnessing an assault on a homeless person near Times Square. According to his testimony, the 911 operator refused to send help unless he provided an exact address—stating that the police “don't use Google”—and was unable to call him back due to his foreign number. In this last case, which remains open, the German citizen demands reforms to NYPD protocols so that officers can communicate with foreigners and non-residents.
