McDonald’s has been ordered to pay nearly $1 million to a Florida family after a toddler suffered burns from Chicken McNuggets. The family sued both the restaurant and the franchise owner, alleging that they failed to provide a proper warning regarding the hot McNuggets.
According to PEOPLE, the Broward County jury decided on Wednesday that the fast food chain and the franchise owner were at fault for the incident. The jury awarded the family $800,000 in damages. The family had purchased the meal through the drive-thru, and as the family vehicle pulled away, a hot chicken nugget fell on the toddler’s leg. This resulted in a nugget-shaped scar and caused immense pain for the child until the wound eventually healed.
Philana Holmes, the mother of the toddler named Olivia Caraballo, expressed her satisfaction with the jury’s decision. She stated, I’m actually just happy that they listened to Olivia’s voice and the jury was able to decide a fair judgment. I’m happy with that. I honestly had no expectations, so this is more than fair for me.
McDonald’s defended itself by arguing that the child’s pain had subsided, suggesting that Holmes was primarily concerned about the scar. The company proposed a significantly lower award of $156,000 to cover any potential damages. However, the jury thought otherwise. They awarded $400,000 for past damages and an additional $400,000 for any future damages.
McDonald’s defense attorney emphasized that Olivia still frequents their restaurants and seems unaffected by the incident. They claimed that her mother was the one primarily bothered by the injury. Nonetheless, this is the second time that both McDonald’s and franchisee Upchurch Foods have been held liable for injuries of this nature. The jury from a previous case stated that the Chicken McNuggets were unreasonably hot and caused burns to the victim’s thighs.
The recent jury did find that Holmes had some liability in the matter. Regardless, they still felt justified in awarding her nearly $1 million in damages.
This incident highlights the importance of providing proper warnings and ensuring customer safety in the fast food industry. As McDonald’s is a renowned global brand, it is crucial for them to adhere to stringent safety standards and take appropriate measures to protect their customers from harm.
