JURY AWARDS $27 MILLION IN McDONALD’S CASE
A Brazos County jury awarded a $27 million verdict in a civil lawsuit against McDonald’s following the 2012 deaths of two Blinn College students.
Lauren Bailey Crisp, 19, of Dripping Springs and Denton James Ward, 18, of Flower Mound were killed when they ran a red light at Texas and Holleman Drive. They were being driven to the hospital after being beaten by a mob at the McDonald’s on University Drive.
The parents of the victims claim the deaths could have been prevented if McDonalds had hired security guards to stop the fights that had happened over the past year.
What’s your Reaction?
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No doubt. The First Amendment is part of it. Never suggested otherwise. I just notice people passing judgment when they do not have all of the facts. 12 jurors who served their civic duty obviously found something wrong with McDonalds’ conduct. If we cannot respect the jury’s decision, and instead elect to play Monday Morning QB, then our system fought for by our Founding Fathers is worth nothing more than the inexpensive paper it’s written on.
Mark Stolarski; Were YOU there in the courtroom?
From here forward is not directed at you. It is expanding on my original comment.
Back to basics, the “kids” are college students. You say (I wasn’t in the courtroom so I’ll take your word) part of the testimony was the fights have been going on for a year, so if the parents know, the students must also have known. I’m guessing McDonald’s didn’t coerce or even entice the students to come there. I’m 73 now and looking at it through the mirror my own choices. I would not choose to go to a place that is known to have that environment, I ALSO WOULD NOT HAVE AND DID NOT CHOOSE TO DO SO WHEN I WAS 18 OR 19.
The college students made a poor choice in going there. The driver who was taking them away also made a poor choice in running the red light. McDonald’s was not involved in either choice. McDonald’s IS the deepest pocket around.
The parents are rightfully distraught at losing their children. No amount of money will ease their pain.
Bill of Rights; I don’t troll message boards. I only speak out occasionally. In the Bill of Rights you refer to, I believe that comes under THE 1st AMENDMENT!
This really is a tough one.. At first I was thinking, how the heck is MD responsible for this..
Then I read some of the alleged testimony..
Police called for this type of mob activity 210 times over the span of a couple of years, at the same time 2-4AM and at this same location..Not sure I am buying the corporate was never notified about all these calls and incidents.
Should they have had security..yes. It is a little troubling that the kid that was beat and later died in the accident had a confrontation (verbal and physical) with part of this group before getting beat up..
The fact that the large group was already there when they pulled into the place, yet still pulled in, is amazing in itself. Then to confront someone in this group is more amazing…(*note to self: If you see a large group fighting in a parking lot, don’t pull in and stir the pot)
I can understand why they did not call EMS while there as well. If your friend just got beat up and there are a couple hundred people fighting, get the heck out of there would be my reaction as well. Call EMS and get to a safe place to meet them…
I still don’t get how MD is responsible for an automobile accident, that was the injured parties fault for running a red light.
I am further amazed that just one person was arrested, nine months after the fact, and gets a slap on the wrist jail sentence. Was there not a ‘large’ group fighting’. Where are those arrest.
For those of you saying McDonald’s wasn’t at fault, were you there in the courtroom to hear all the evidence? Probably not. I’m pretty sure that both sides would have had expert testimony and that the court look at relevant laws regarding negligence and responsibility.
If someone is injured in your home or yard because you are negligent, you are responsible for their injuries. The same applies to businesses. If this had been a one-time mob event that McDonald’s could not have foreseen, then the outcome in the courtroom would have likely been different, but, as the article reports, these mobs had been a recurring problem that McDonald’s did not try to prevent, thereby endangering their customers.
You can’t blame the police as “Bill” does. There just aren’t enough police in any town to constantly be everywhere. Even if police had been in the area, the mob would have behaved until the police were out of sight.
Other fast food chains hire security during late hours. Those security officers’ paychecks cost much less than lawsuits.
Only the jury heard all of the evidence; not those trolling messages boards. Just remember, there is more than just the 2nd Amendment to the Bill of Rights. There is also the 7th Amendment among others.
I’m getting tired of other’s profiting off of some one else’s death(s) This is hardly condusive to morale building in any community. “McDonald’s deserves a break today!”
Utter stupidity on the jury’s part. If there were so many fights there why had the police not been a regular presence in the area of that store? And Me you are right they should be ashamed of themselves and the judge that allowed this to go to court. I hope McDonalds appeals this ruling. I thought we were done with stupid lawsuits????
Ditto. Ridiculous.
I totally agree with Me.
How is McDonalds responsible for these kids getting beat up and killed running a red light on the way to the hospital. May as we’ll sue TXDOT for the light not being green. This is ridiculous. This jury should be ashamed of themselves.