A Florida woman has been awarded more than $14 million after a jury found in her favor in a lawsuit involving a contaminated ice cream cone.
According to KOAT, Brandy Buckley purchased butter pecan ice cream from Bruster’s Ice Cream in Palm Bay in 2018. Court documents state Buckley was at the shop with her son when she noticed something unusual in her cone.
“When I did swallow, I did feel something in my throat that kind of got stuck,” Buckley said. “I thought it was a pecan because it was a butter pecan ice cream that I had purchased.”
Hospital Visit Revealed Metal Fragments
Buckley went to the hospital for an X-ray after experiencing discomfort. Doctors reportedly confirmed she had swallowed a nail.
Her attorney said she later underwent surgery to remove one of the nails and additional metal fragments.
The lawsuit detailed serious medical complications following the incident. Buckley experienced portal vein thrombosis and internal bleeding, which required further medical intervention.
“I developed a blood clot. I developed a blood clot. After that, that led me into an ablation to where I couldn’t have any more children,” she said.
The medical complications significantly altered her life.
Lawsuit Filed Against Malabar Creameries
Buckley’s attorney filed the lawsuit in 2019 against Malabar Creameries, the company connected to the product. The company argued that the product was not defective and accused Buckley of negligence.
However, the jury disagreed.
On March 24, jurors awarded Buckley $14 million in damages, which includes compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering.