Ridiculous Reasons People Sued Fast-Food Chains

Fast-food restaurants are no strangers to bizarre lawsuits. Whether it’s an outrageous claim or a peculiar complaint, some lawsuits leave you wondering how they even made it to court. Here are nine of the most ridiculous reasons people sued fast-food chains.

Burger King’s Penny-Pinching Problems

A New York woman sued Burger King^® over a 20-cent price difference between two locations for a large Coke^®. She sought $100 for the extra distance she had to walk for the cheaper drink. Burger King won the case without attending court.

KFC’s Overflowing Expectations

In 2016, a New York woman sued KFC^® for false advertising, claiming the “fill-up” chicken bucket she received was far from overflowing as depicted in commercials. She argued that the ads showed a bucket full of chicken, enough to feed a family, but she only received half a bucket. KFC offered her gift certificates, but she rejected them and filed a lawsuit, which was ultimately dismissed.

Subway’s Sub-Sized Surprise

Subway^® was hit with a lawsuit when customers discovered that their “Footlong” sandwiches were only 11 inches long. The lawsuit alleged that Subway engaged in deceptive marketing practices. The case was settled, and Subway agreed to ensure their sandwiches met the advertised length.

Wendy’s^® Chili Con Controversy

One of the most shocking lawsuits involved Wendy’s, where a customer claimed to have found a human finger in her chili. It was later discovered that the customer planted the finger herself in an attempt to extort money from the chain.

Krispy Kreme’s False Flavor Fiasco

In 2016, Jason Saidian from Los Angeles sued Krispy Kreme^® for $5 million, claiming their fruit-flavored desserts didn’t contain real fruit, and their Maple Bar lacked real maple. He argued that items labeled “Glazed Raspberry Filled” should have real raspberry. While some products, like Glazed Lemon Donuts, did have real lemon juice, this inconsistency prompted his lawsuit. Saidian voluntarily dropped the case in 2017.

Burger King’s Plant-Based Predicament

Burger King’s plant-based Impossible Whopper^® led to a lawsuit from a vegan customer who claimed that the burger was contaminated by meat residue from the grill. The case was dismissed, but it sparked discussions about vegan and vegetarian options at fast-food chains.

Chilling Claims Against Starbucks^®

Starbucks faced a lawsuit for allegedly overloading its iced drinks with ice, reducing the actual amount of coffee. The plaintiff claimed nearly half the cup was filled with ice, misleading customers about the beverage size. However, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed the case, noting that consumers should expect ice in iced drinks. A Starbucks spokesperson mentioned that employees are always willing to remake drinks for customers dissatisfied with the ice-to-drink ratio.

McDonald’s^® Scalding Surprise

One of the most infamous lawsuits in fast-food history is the McDonald’s hot coffee case. In 1992, Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s after spilling hot coffee on herself, causing third-degree burns. She was awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages. This case is often cited as an example of frivolous lawsuits, but it brought attention to the dangers of extremely hot beverages.

These lawsuits might sound absurd, but they highlight the sometimes strange and litigious nature of consumer grievances with fast-food chains. While some cases brought important issues to light, others left us scratching our heads.

References: 14 Ridiculous Reasons People Sued Fast-Food Chains | 10 Head-Scratching Fast Food Law Suits