Most Insane Reasons People Have Sued a Fast-Food Chain
Fast-food joints and courtrooms might seem worlds apart, yet they’ve collided more often than you’d imagine. Over the years, customers have taken chains to court over coffee burns, chicken bones, and even too much ice in a drink. Some claims came from real harm, others from pure overreaction, but each one left a strange paper trail behind. Here’s a look at the most unusual cases to ever hit the fast-food world.
A Sandwich With an Unexpected Crunch
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When a man bit into a McNugget in Florida, he hit bone and cracked his tooth in two places. The nugget’s hard center was just under an inch long, and he said it felt like biting a rock. He sued McDonald’s for $1.1 million and called for a nationwide recall.
That Tuna Test Didn’t Help
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Two California customers believed Subway’s tuna sandwiches were something else entirely. In 2021, they sued the chain with the claim that no actual tuna could be detected in lab tests. Subway denied it and eventually launched a full PR response, including a website that defended their use of wild-caught tuna.
When a Sandwich Had a Side of Knife
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In 2008, a man in New York took a bite of his Subway sandwich and felt something off. When he looked closer, he found a serrated knife baked right into the bread, the plastic handle partly melted into the loaf. Subway didn’t respond to his complaint, so he sued. The court sided with him, and he walked away with about $20,000 in damages.
Happy Meals Made Him Unhappy
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In Quebec, a father challenged McDonald’s over how it displayed Happy Meal toys, saying the setup pressured kids to beg their parents for them. He argued the toys were placed right at a child’s eye level and that this broke Canadian laws restricting advertising aimed at children.
Price Tag Trouble Over 20 Cents
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A woman in New York decided Burger King owed her $100 after she realized a large soda cost more at one location than another. One restaurant sold the drink for 89 cents, the other for 69. Her lawsuit included damages for the longer walk to find the cheaper option.
Finger Found in Chili Wasn’t What It Seemed
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One of the most notorious fast-food scandals began when a woman said she found a human finger in her Wendy’s chili. Police soon learned she had planted it herself, even boiling it first so it would look real. What started as a plan for an easy payout ended with her serving time in prison instead.
Choking on Chicken and Suing Over a Spork
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An attorney in Mississippi ordered Popeyes and found himself in court, not because of the food, but the utensils. He said the lack of a plastic knife forced him to eat with his hands, which caused him to choke. Emergency surgery followed. His lawsuit requested proper utensils for all customers going forward.
Coffee Case That Wasn’t a Joke
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In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled a cup of McDonald’s coffee on her lap and suffered third-degree burns. The injuries were so severe that she needed skin grafts and weeks of treatment. McDonald’s had already logged hundreds of similar complaints, but when the company offered her only $800, she took the case to court and won a substantial payout.
When Bread Wasn’t Really Bread
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In Ireland, Subway faced legal scrutiny in 2020. The country’s Supreme Court ruled the bread used in its sandwiches contained so much sugar it didn’t meet the legal definition of “bread.” The company stood by its recipe, even after the court’s decision.
Too Much Ice, Too Little Coffee
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Starbucks was sued by a customer who claimed its iced drinks were mostly just that—ice. The argument was that advertised sizes didn’t reflect the actual amount of coffee or tea. A federal judge dismissed the case, saying any reasonable person knows iced drinks include ice.
Not Enough Chicken in the Bucket
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A New York woman believed KFC’s marketing was misleading. The bucket in the ad showed it overflowing with fried chicken. The one she received didn’t come close to it. She filed a lawsuit, calling it false advertising and claiming the bucket couldn’t feed a whole family. KFC offered her gift certificates, but she refused.
The Cheese Charge Controversy
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In 2018, a Florida couple sued McDonald’s over 90 cents. They argued that removing cheese from a Quarter Pounder should reduce the price, especially since cheese-free burgers were previously cheaper menu options. They claimed they were forced to pay for an ingredient they didn’t want.
The Not-So-Angus Ad War
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Jack in the Box ran a cheeky campaign poking fun at the word “Angus,” hinting that competitors’ burgers came from, well, the wrong end of the cow. Carl’s Jr. didn’t like the innuendo. The court didn’t find the joke harmful enough to stop it, and both companies privately settled the matter.
Taco Shell Idea Allegedly Stolen From Prison
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A Colorado inmate once claimed Taco Bell stole his concept for Doritos Locos Tacos. In his 2013 lawsuit, he said he’d written to PepsiCo while in prison, describing taco shells made from Doritos. He argued that the company had used his idea without credit. Taco Bell denied it, saying the product was developed internally long before his letter.
No Fruit in the Fruit-Flavored Donuts
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In California, a man filed a lawsuit against Krispy Kreme after learning that its fruit-flavored donuts didn’t actually contain fruit. The “Glazed Raspberry Filled” donut, for example, used artificial flavoring instead of real berries. He sought $5 million in damages, arguing that some of the chain’s other varieties, like lemon, did include real juice and that customers were being misled.