A jury has returned a split verdict in a case where parents sued McDonald’s after their four-year-old daughter was burned by a dangerously hot chicken McNugget. The incident took place in August 2019 when the family stopped at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Florida. According to the parents, their daughter suffered second-degree burns when she bit into a chicken McNugget that was dangerously hot.
The parents filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s, alleging that the fast-food chain was negligent in serving the hot McNugget to their daughter. They argued that the temperature of the food was unreasonably dangerous and that the company failed to warn customers about the risk of injury. The family sought damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
During the trial, McDonald’s argued that the temperature of the McNugget was within the industry standard and that the parents were responsible for their daughter’s injuries. The company also argued that the girl’s injuries were not as severe as the parents claimed.
After deliberating for several hours, the jury returned a split verdict. The jury found that McDonald’s was not negligent in serving the hot McNugget to the girl, but that the company failed to provide adequate warnings to customers about the risk of injury. The jury awarded the family $30,000 in damages, which is significantly less than the amount they were seeking.
The case highlights the potential risks of serving hot food in fast-food restaurants. While McDonald’s argues that the temperature of the McNugget was within industry standards, the jury found that the company should have provided more warnings to customers about the potential risk of injury. It remains to be seen whether the verdict will have any impact on the way fast-food restaurants serve hot food to customers.
In a statement after the verdict, a McDonald’s spokesperson said that the company is committed to the safety of its customers and will review the verdict and evaluate its options. The spokesperson also expressed sympathy for the family and their daughter’s injuries.