Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Mother wins legal battle with McDonald's after daughter suffers burns from chicken nugget

Mother wins legal battle with McDonald's after daughter suffers burns from chicken nugget

Philana Holmes told jurors her daughter suffered second-degree burns after a McNugget, bought from a McDonald's in Tamarac, Florida, fell from a Happy Meal on to her upper thigh.

A mother has won a legal battle with McDonald's after her daughter suffered second-degree burns from a hot chicken nugget.

Philana Holmes told jurors that her four-year-old daughter suffered burns to her upper thigh after the McNugget fell from a Happy Meal on to her leg.

In a lawsuit similar to the infamous 1992 McDonald's "Hot Coffee" case, she took the owner of the franchise where she purchased the meal to court in South Florida, claiming negligence.

She also claimed that the fast food giant had failed to warn customers about the "dangerous" temperature of the food.

However, lawyers for McDonald's argued that the nuggets had to be hot to avoid risks of salmonella.

They also argued that the McNuggets were not designed to be pressed between a seat belt and human flesh for more than two minutes.

Jurors found the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food.

They also found McDonald's USA liable for failing to provide instructions for the safe handling of the food.

However, McDonald's USA was not found to be negligent, and the jury dismissed the argument that the product was defective.

Another jury will now decide on how much McDonald's USA and its franchise owner, Upchurch Foods, will pay the child and her mother.

A spokesperson Upchurch Foods said it was "deeply disappointed" with the verdict.

Philana Holmes's daughter Olivia Caraballo was four years old at the time.


Owner-operator Brent Upchurch said: "The facts show that our restaurant in Tamarac, Florida, did indeed follow those protocols when cooking and serving this Happy Meal."

Jurors heard two days of arguments about the incident, which took place in 2019 when Ms Holmes's daughter, Olivia, was aged four.

She told the court that she bought Happy Meals for her son and daughter at a drive-thru window at a McDonald's in Tamarac, near Fort Lauderdale, and then handed the food to her children, who were in the back seat.

After she drove away, her daughter, who the court heard has autism, started screaming. She pulled over and saw the burn on the girl's leg and took photos on her iPhone.

Both sides agreed the nugget caused the burns, however, the family's lawyers argued the temperature was above 93C (200F) while lawyers for McDonald's argued it was 71C (160F).

The case has drawn similarities to the infamous McDonald's "Hot Coffee" case, when a woman from New Mexico successfully sued the company after suffering burns when a coffee spilt on to her lap.

Stella Liebeck, 81, was initially awarded $2.7m in damages, but it was later reduced to $480,000.

A British man also sued McDonald's in 1995 over its apple pies after he suffered burns when some of its contents spilt out on to his arm.

He was awarded £750.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
×