McDonald's manager gains weight, wins lawsuit

McDonald's manager gains weight, wins lawsuit
Tags: Burger/Steak/BBQ, Food & Beverage, Health & Nutrition, Legal Issues
October 28, 2010

A former franchise manager of a Brazilian McDonald's has won $17,500 in a lawsuit stemming from his 65-pound weight gain.

For 12 years, the 32-year-old worked for the chain, where he sampled food daily to ensure high standards. He claimed he felt forced to do so because mystery clients were hired to randomly visit and report on the food, service and cleanliness.

According to an Associated Press report, his dramatic weight gain was also facilitated by free employee lunches offered by McDonald's.

The ruling was signed this week by Judge Joao Ghisleni Filho in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The McDonald's Brazilian headquarters is weighing its legal options before deciding whether or not to appeal the case.

This is not the first time the chain has come under legal fire to contributing to obesity. Earlier this week, a U.S. court dismissed a group lawsuit against McDonald's for a similar accusation.

Reader Comments

Michael Antony

about 19 months ago

I was a Restaurant Manager for 10+ years and have been in the industry since my very first job as a dishwasher (25 years total). I allowed my weight to "yo-yo" the whole time I managed.

I blamed line checks, beverage tastings, free fried food during shifts, long shifts, nearly-constant stress, exhaustion, "no time to sit down," etc., etc.

When I was away from the restaurant/s--on my own time--I didn't exercise and I didn't eat healthy either though.

It wasn't the restaurant's fault--nor was it the fault of various cuisines at diverse restaurants where I worked. It wasn't the wine events or the time on my feet.

It was me buying into a complaint shared industry-wide and me not rising above it or challenging myself to live better.

Think about the spit buckets at wine tastings. You may be required to perform quality checks, but you don't have to swallow all the product all the time and nothing keeps you from exercising it off at home.

I think the success of the lawsuit is a sad comment on lack of personal pride and an ever-growing trend in our global society to blame our condition on our situation.

I hope no United States court would ever draw the same conclusion of guilt/liability as that court in Brazil.

Michael A--Las Vegas