The suit said a nugget got stuck in her car seat and burned the child’s leg.
A Florida family was awarded $800,000 after a civil lawsuit against McDonald’s and a franchisee. The South Florida jury delivered its verdict after a 4-year-old girl named Olivia Caraballo suffered second-degree burns from a McDonald’s chicken nugget four years ago. CBS news.
Lawyers for the family sought $15 million in damages. However, jurors reached their verdict on Wednesday after deliberating for less than two hours, the media outlet reported.
After hearing the closing arguments, a jury decided to award $800,000 for the child’s pain and suffering.
According to NBCMiamiPhilana Holmes and Humberto Caraballo Estevez, the parents of Olivia Caraballo, sued McDonald’s Corporation and franchisee Upchurch Foods, Incorporated, also known as Upchurch Management, alleging that the girl suffered second-degree burns from the “unreasonably and dangerously” hot nuggets in her “Happy Meal.”
The suit said a nugget got stuck in her car seat and burned the child’s leg.
Mrs. Holmes said, “I’m really just glad they listened to Olivia’s voice and she, the jury, was able to make a fair verdict, I’m happy about that.”
“This momentous decision marks a meaningful conclusion to a difficult and lengthy legal process,” the lawyers said in a statement. “Having previously held the defendants, Upchurch Foods Inc and McDonald’s USA LLC, liable for their wrongful acts, this verdict reaffirms that they must now face the consequences and deliver full justice. Despite years of denial of any wrongdoing and, during this trial, attempts to undermine the extent of Olivia’s suffering in the eyes of the community, their efforts have been overtaken by the determination of the jury.”
Both McDonald’s and Upchurch argued at trial that they were not at fault. However, the jury found that McDonald’s did not put warnings on the food that led to the child’s injury.
The jury felt the McNuggets should be served safely.
