Marine Veteran Left With Permanent Brain Damage After Eating Oysters at Chicago Steakhouse

A celebratory outing turned into a nightmare that changed everything for one Marine veteran and his family. Now, more than a year later, they’re fighting for answers.

ABC News reported on Tuesday, August 11, that Joe Belgio — a Marine veteran and retired firefighter from Cicero, Illinois — remains hospitalized after suffering catastrophic health complications his attorneys say began just days after a family dinner.

Belgio, 44, was dining at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook on June 30, 2025, with his fiancée, Melanie Stayer, and their infant daughter, when he ate raw oysters his attorneys now say were contaminated and directly responsible for his decline.

The family has since filed suit against the steakhouse, where Belgio was served the oysters, and Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, the distributor that supplied them.

According to the lawsuit, Belgio became severely ill after the meal, a crisis that ultimately led to permanent brain injuries. The family’s attorney, Scott O’Sullivan, described just how quickly things spiraled.

“He ended up getting very, very ill, and resulting in cardiac arrests where he lost consciousness and oxygen for at least eight minutes, and was revived by this very fire department, and has been in the hospital ever since,” O’Sullivan told ABC affiliate WLS on August 10.

Doctors screened Belgio for bacteria and identified several pathogens tied to shellfish contamination, according to the suit. O’Sullivan said the damage has left Belgio with severe, lasting impairments. “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.”

As of August 11, a GoFundMe set up to support Belgio and his family had raised $88,506 toward its $150,000 goal from 524 donations, reaching about 60% of its target.

In an emotional statement shared by his family on the page, they wrote: “He is a cherished father, fiancé, son, brother, and friend. Joe and Melanie are the proud parents of a beautiful 7-month-old baby girl, Carmela. Being her dad brings him immense joy, and he now needs our collective support to ensure a bright future for her and his family.”

A spokesperson for Gibsons Oak Brook disputed the claims in a statement obtained by FOX8 on August 11 that reads, “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.”