The mother of a young girl who suffered second-degree burns from a McDonald’s chicken nugget four years ago was awarded $800,000.
The child’s mother, Philana Holmes, bought Happy Meals for her children and gave the box to them in the back seat before driving away.
But only moments later, her daughter Olivia started screaming in pain after she dropped one of the nuggets onto her lap and it got stuck between her leg and car seat for two minutes.
The family’s attorney, John Fischer, reportedly asked for an award of $15 million. He also argued that the child deserved $5 million for the last four years and $10 million for the future.
After less than two hours of deliberation, the jury reached the verdict and allotted $400,000 in damages for the past four years and an additional $400,000.
Holmes said she was happy that the court heard child’s story and that she felt that the amount given to them was fair.
“I’m happy with that. I honestly had no expectations, so this is more than fair for me,” she said.
McDonald’s attorney argued that the girl’s discomfort and pain ended when her wound healed, which they said took less than a month.
They said $156,000 would be enough to cover past and future costs related to the burn.
Defense attorney Jennifer Miller said: “She’s still going to McDonalds, she still asks to go to McDonald’s, she’s still driving through the drive-through with her mom, getting chicken nuggets. She’s not bothered by the injury. This is all the mom.”
Family attorney Keyla Smith argued that the scar will remain with Olivia for the rest of her life and that no treatment or medical surgery can fully remove it.
“It’s not perfection, it’s not a badge of honor to have s car as a woman. It’s not fair at all, but that’s the society we live in,” Smith said.
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