Officer Suing McDonald's

[snopes]

A Charles City police officer is taking the world's largest restaurant chain to court. Josh Douglas says he ordered a chicken sandwich from McDonald's and it came to him as a "cop-special"... covered in spit.

http://www.kimt.com/news/local/7757412.html

[Jahungo]

Almost totally unrelated, but this reminded me of a conversation I had earlier upon seeing one of those stupid new commercials for iced coffee. We joked that now some guy was going to spill an iced coffee on his lap and sue because it froze his giblets off.

Okay...maybe you had to be there?

[Wolf333]

So, I wonder how this guy would feel if another Charles city cop did something as inconsequential as these McD employees and the victim sued the state?

Let's say that a Charles city cop hocks a loogie on a passing tourist, the cop gets fired, but the tourist decides that is not enough and sues the state of Minnesota/Iowa. Would this guy still sing the same tune?

[snopes]

Best out-of-context sentence:

"But luckily, a hatred of veggies kept him safe from the saliva."

"He will never go into a fast food joint again for fear there will be flem in his sandwich."

Hey, that's my dad you're talking about!

- snopes

Originally Posted by Wolf333

So, I wonder how this guy would feel if another Charles city cop did something as inconsequential as these McD employees and the victim sued the state?

Do you really view spitting into a product meant for consumption as inconsequential? I'm not saying that this guy should be entitled to a zillion dollars, but hawking a loogie into someone's sandwich is far, far past a simple stupid prank.

[Troodon]

I don't see how McDonald's can do more to prevent this sort of thing than they did in the case in the OP.

[MidgardDragon]

Originally Posted by Class Bravo

Do you really view spitting into a product meant for consumption as inconsequential? I'm not saying that this guy should be entitled to a zillion dollars, but hawking a loogie into someone's sandwich is far, far past a simple stupid prank.

I wouldn't agree with the poster that called it inconsequential, but I would say a lawsuit is way out in the extreme. Assuming that this was a regular employee and not the manager, then the simple solution would be to take the sandwich back, request either a refund or replacement (to be made by a different employee, obviously) and request the spitter's termination. I can't see any reason to make this into a lawsuit.

[jimmy101_again]

Originally Posted by Troodon

I don't see how McDonald's can do more to prevent this sort of thing than they did in the case in the OP.

Well they could probably start by paying their empoyees more than $1.29 an hour. (I know, they probably pay more than that.)

Besides, part of the point of a lawsuit is to gather info about the incedent. It is possible that the employee had done this, or something similar, before. Only way for the cop to find out is via a lawsuit. If MacD had had previous problems with the empoyees, but not fired them because of the difficulty replacing them, then MacD is very much responsible.

If there had been no previous problems with the employees then MacD is less responsible.

They only way to find out is by suing.

"He will never go into a fast food joint again for fear there will be flem in his sandwich."

Because I am a pedant:

"He will never go into a fast food joint again for fear there will be phlegm in his sandwich."

It's odd that didn't get caught...I guess it's not print media though.

[Andrew of Ware]

Originally Posted by EricB

Because I am a pedant:

Quote:
"He will never go into a fast food joint again for fear there will be phlegm in his sandwich."

It's odd that didn't get caught...I guess it's not print media though.

Thanks for that Eric, I thought 'flem' was yet another American spelling I hadn't come across.

Oh, and was I the only one who was amused by this sentence in the article in the OP?

He stressed McDonald's takes food quality ... very seriously.

[Recklessmess]

Originally Posted by MidgardDragon

I wouldn't agree with the poster that called it inconsequential, but I would say a lawsuit is way out in the extreme. Assuming that this was a regular employee and not the manager, then the simple solution would be to take the sandwich back, request either a refund or replacement (to be made by a different employee, obviously) and request the spitter's termination. I can't see any reason to make this into a lawsuit.

I don't know about you, but if I found a roach, or spit, or anything unsanitary on my burger, I'd be really freaked out, maybe to the point of a panic attack or something.

There's a great part in the book Fight Club where Tyler is working at a social party, and the hostess discovers an anonymous note that says, "I peed in one of your perfume bottles." The woman is so distressed that she destroys all hundred or so of the bottles, covered in her own blood due to the broken glass, and the whole time she's crying, "Who would do such a thing?!"

Yeah, it's from a book, but consider how you'd feel if someone said they'd spit in just one article of food you were about to eat, but didn't tell you which one. Now every time the cop goes to a fast food joint, he's going to sweat over whether extra sauce has been added to his meal. Is a new burger (and that guy's dismissal) real compensation for all the stress?

[Troberg]

A Charles City police officer is taking the world's largest restaurant chain to court. Josh Douglas says he ordered a chicken sandwich from McDonald's and it came to him as a "cop-special"... covered in spit.

At no extra cost!?!? He is right to take them to court, such blatant attempts at bribery can not be tolerated!

On the other hand, as dry as the burger I got at McD the day before yesterday was, perhaps some spit would have made it edible. I ended up chucking it and just buying a large bunch of chili cheese tops instead.

Am I the only person to think of that scene in Super Troopers?

I would like to order a liter of soda.

[Lady Neeva]

No... the article said thats where the kid got the idea.

I'm not too distressed by the idea of a lawsuit -- but honestly it won't change anything. People responsible enough not to do that kind of thing (or stop it if someone else does it) aren't likely to be found working for minimum wage at a burger joint. And the majority of teenagers are little balls of resentment towards authority -- so you'll get this kind of thing from time to time. I doubt it's a regular occurance though.

As to the comparison posted above...

Originally Posted by Wolf333

Let's say that a Charles city cop hocks a loogie on a passing tourist, the cop gets fired, but the tourist decides that is not enough and sues the state of Minnesota/Iowa. Would this guy still sing the same tune?

Honestly, if an officer spit on anyone (tourist, suspect, fellow officer, or just a random member of the community)... I think the city/state *should* be sued. Obviously that person was unfit for duty, and someone somewhere dropped the ball and didn't catch it (or let it slide because of a personal relationship or bribery).

Although, I'd have to say from my experiences with police over the years, I can't imagine an officer spitting on someone unless there was extreme provocation probably happening over a period of time... while I'm sure there are bad officers, the vast majority I've met have been good guys (and gals) and professional and polite almost to a fault.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Class Bravo

I'm not saying that this guy should be entitled to a zillion dollars, but hawking a loogie into someone's sandwich is far, far past a simple stupid prank.

Yes, I think the resolution to this issue should not be a civil lawsuit against the restaurant (management apparently acted appropriately in response) but rather criminal charges against the "pranksters." This was not merely a harmless joke; it was something that could have resulted in some serious health issues.

- snopes

[Singing in the Drizzle]

I worked the drive-thru on a night shift for two years at Jack-in-the-Box. We always treated the police fairly and politly. There have been a few exceptions like the cop the was dudy, buligerant and drunk or the the one that insisted that we upen up for him 15 min after the store was closed, becuase he just had to have a burger. We figured that we need to call police for so problem with a customer or other problem that can happen late at night around the store. They would remember how and show up quickly and with a good opinion of us to start with. Also just having them around did a lot to discorage the undisarable people showing up.

For the police that came thru regularly at night. We tried to give them a discount when every we could get a way with it. Well maybe not "get a way with it" since the mangment ecouraged it on the night shift. "Here sir, would you like to use this 10% off coupon that I just give you?... Here is your meal and a few more of those coupons, enjoy your meal and come back again soon".

[Wolf333]

Originally Posted by Class Bravo

Do you really view spitting into a product meant for consumption as inconsequential? I'm not saying that this guy should be entitled to a zillion dollars, but hawking a loogie into someone's sandwich is far, far past a simple stupid prank.

I was speaking in a "grand scheme of things" sort of way. While disgusting, it really caused no harm.

And this would be the perfect example of a simple STUPID prank.

[Wolf333]

Originally Posted by snopes

Yes, I think the resolution to this issue should not be a civil lawsuit against the restaurant (management apparently acted appropriately in response) but rather criminal charges against the "pranksters." This was not merely a harmless joke; it was something that could have resulted in some serious health issues.

- snopes

Agreed. It isn't the company that is at fault in this situation. It's the individual.

[jespur62]

Eating out puts you in the middle of the wide world of sports. Not even thinking about the US standards for insect parts and vermin feces allowed in processed foods...you also have the local health department ratings, which most areas don't post in easily accessible places - like in big letters on the door of each eatery.
usually the folks preparing the food are told about sanitary methods. Some workers actually need the money they make, so show up for work even when they are sick (been there, done that). Some don't have a concept of personal cleanliness. Also, the adolescent male's brain works differently.

Having said all that, I wouldn't want someone spitting in my food.

[Dog Friendly]

I was perplexed by the cop's insisting that McDonald's "step up to the plate". Plate? They use plates at McDonald's?

I admit I'm out of touch. I don't think I've patronized McDonald's since about the Carter administration, but this still surprises me.

Pass the herring, please. (THWACK) Thank you.