Overview

• Mary Elizabeth Smith filed a negligence lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court on Aug. 7 over an alleged Nov. 17, 2023 incident at Create Astoria in Queens.
• Her attorney says a lab confirmed the tissue was from a human female, and she underwent precautionary antiretroviral therapy after the bite.
• Owner Teddy Karagiannis rejects the allegation as impossible, cites multiple food checks in his kitchen, and says he intends to countersue for slander.
• Create’s insurer, Liberty Mutual, has denied the claim, and the defense points to staffing records asserting no female workers were on the line that day.
• The parties also disagree over DNA testing and possible supply‑chain origins, with the plaintiff arguing the restaurant remains responsible for what it serves as the case proceeds.