Cowboys Coach sues McDonalds over dead rat

[kepdawg]

Cowboys coach files suit over McDonald's salad

05:33 PM CDT on Thursday, October 26, 2006

By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH - A member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, his wife and the family's au pair have filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s in Southlake claiming they found a dead rat in their salad.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in state district court on behalf of passing game coordinator Todd Haley, his wife Christine Haley and the family’s live-in babysitter, Kathryn Kelley.

According to the lawsuit, Mrs. Haley and Ms. Kelley purchased a salad on June 5 at the McDonald’s restaurant at 2155 W. Southlake Boulevard.

Both women had eaten part of the salad before a dead rodent was uncovered, the lawsuit said.

The women became violently ill and endured long-lasting physical injuries, the lawsuit said. Mrs. Haley, who was nursing, had to feed her baby with formula.

Both women claim severe mental and physical pain and said their dining habits have been altered. They also said they incurred medical and psychological expenses.

The lawsuit seeks at least $1.7 million in damages.

Local and corporate officials with McDonald's could not be immediately reached for comment.

E-mail debdennis@dallasnews.com

[htowntransplant]

note to self:

dont eat at that mcdonalds.

not that i eat at mcdonalds anymore. its all whataburger and DQ for me....its texas!

[NDFootball]

That's disturbing....

:(

I liked McDonald's too.....

[BMOC]

That is disgusting, and I just ate at a salad bar.:tongue:

[maroogreen]

I'm not one for frivolous lawsuits, but that makes me want to hurl. Throw a nursing baby into the mix that suddenly has to switch to formula (trust me on this one, men. It's usually not an easy changeover. Would you want to switch from that to something plastic and artificial? Scratch that, some of you already may have--at least to other "plastic and artificial" replicas :D ), and I'd be pretty angry, too.

Anyway, I'm surprised McDonald's didn't quietly settle this one. The accusers aren't some ex-cons on welfare... They should have known this would generate some bad press.

[slpybear the bullfan]

Disgusting, Gross, and Uncalled for? YES.

Worth 1.7MM? HECK NO.

Just because you find a dead animal in fast food doesn't mean you get to hit the lottery. Should you be awarded damages? Sure. But 1.7MM? ROFLMAO. Maybe there "is such thing as a free lunch."

[GOFOR2]

McDonald's has always been under the opinion that even bad publicity is good for business. That is beyond my understanding, but that is what they believe.

[Phil C]

I'm sure the rat didn't eat too much and that McDonald's didn't charge extra for him.


:D

[bulldogman06]

hahaha Phil, you would just be makin sure all of your salad was there, that rat better not have eaten any of it!

[Maroon87]

T.O. probably put it there.:p

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by slpybear the bullfan
Disgusting, Gross, and Uncalled for? YES.

Worth 1.7MM? HECK NO.

Just because you find a dead animal in fast food doesn't mean you get to hit the lottery. Should you be awarded damages? Sure. But 1.7MM? ROFLMAO. Maybe there "is such thing as a free lunch."

my thoughts exactly...

[piratebg]

I've eaten at McDonalds about 3-4 times this week. I'm on a budget that utilizes dollar menus, so I guess I'm stuck going back to Wendys. Body Parts vs Rodents........tough decision here. :thinking:

[Maroon87]

Funny thing is, I'm headed up to DFW for NASCAR next weekend and we usually eat in Grapevine or Southlake. I don't think we've ever eaten at that particular McDonald's and now I'm sure we never will.:eek:

[Old Tiger]

mmmmmmm raaaaaat mmmmmmmm

[AggieJohn]

lawsuits in this nature should have a 250,000 cap

[STANG RED]

Originally posted by slpybear the bullfan
Disgusting, Gross, and Uncalled for? YES.

Worth 1.7MM? HECK NO.

Just because you find a dead animal in fast food doesn't mean you get to hit the lottery. Should you be awarded damages? Sure. But 1.7MM? ROFLMAO. Maybe there "is such thing as a free lunch."

Yea, but dont these things usually end up as a negotiation? Start high, negotiate, then settle for something everyone can live with?
No way this would end up at 1.7M, is there?

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by Maroon87
Funny thing is, I'm headed up to DFW for NASCAR next weekend and we usually eat in Grapevine or Southlake. I don't think we've ever eaten at that particular McDonald's and now I'm sure we never will.:eek:

The only McD's that I know of in Southlake is just south of 114 by the Home Depot. There's probably another one over on Carrol Ave so that's always a possibility.

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by STANG RED
Yea, but dont these things usually end up as a negotiation? Start high, negotiate, then settle for something everyone can live with?
No way this would end up at 1.7M, is there?

If it goes to trial...then it could end up higher as jurys (especially ones in the south) love to punish big business. That being said, any type of jury issued payout would get tied up in appeals court for years and it would likely be 10-15 years before this is resolved. I'm betting this is either settled quickly or the charges dropped once Haley realizes that he doesn't quite have the bankroll to take on "the man with the golden arches!" ;)

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Adidas410s
If it goes to trial...then it could end up higher as jurys (especially ones in the south) love to punish big business. That being said, any type of jury issued payout would get tied up in appeals court for years and it would likely be 10-15 years before this is resolved. I'm betting this is either settled quickly or the charges dropped once Haley realizes that he doesn't quite have the bankroll to take on "the man with the golden arches!" ;)

A lot of times the appeals courts lower the dameage though Ad.

[BullFrog Dad]

Originally posted by AggieJohn
lawsuits in this nature should have a 250,000 cap Maybe with fries and a coke thrown in.

[Adidas410s]

Originally posted by Phil C
A lot of times the appeals courts lower the dameage though Ad.

also true...a jury would likely find for much more than the $1.7 being asked for...and then, once a settle was finally paid out, it would be much lower. I sure hope Haley loves the legal fees in the mean time though! ;)