Judge Rules Stew Leonard’s Employees Not Liable in Dancer's Fatal Allergy Case

Órla Baxendale, a 25-year-old dancer, died in January 2024 after consuming a Florentine cookie sold under the Stew Leonard's brand that contained undeclared peanuts, causing a fatal allergic reaction. The cookie was manufactured by Cookies United and sold exclusively at Stew Leonard's Danbury and Newington locations. Baxendale's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in May 2024 against Stew Leonard's entities, individual employees including Stew Leonard Jr., and Cookies United, alleging negligence in failing to properly label the product despite being notified of the peanut content. However, Connecticut judge Kimberly Massicotte ruled that individual Stew Leonard's employees and executives are not legally liable, stating that the duty to correctly label grocery products belongs to the store operator, not individual workers. The judge also dismissed wrongful death claims against individuals, clarifying that the Connecticut Products Liability Act is the sole remedy for injuries caused by defective products, though the product liability claims against Stew Leonard's and Cookies United will proceed to trial in 2026. The family’s attorney criticized Stew Leonard’s for prolonging litigation instead of accepting responsibility, seeking punitive damages to promote accountability and prevent future tragedies.