News

McDonald's denied request to defend Happy Meals in federal court

July 20, 2011

McDonald's Corp.'s lawsuit over its Happy Meal marketing tactics will continue in a California state court, not in federal court as requested by the company.

According to Reuters, federal courts are considered friendlier to corporate defenses than state courts.

Plaintiff Monet Parham and her attorneys countered McDonald's request by asking that the case stay in California, where it was originally filed. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney sided with the plaintiffs and the case will carry on in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.

A McDonald's spokesperson said the company was disappointed with the ruling, and will vigorously defend the brand, reputation and food.

The Center for Science in Public Interest filed the lawsuit on behalf of parents, including Parham, in December.

The lawsuit claims that McDonald's violates California's consumer protection laws by targeting children under 8 years old who don't have the ability to understand advertising.

At the time of the filing, Parham, a mother from Sacramento, said: "I object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat."

Notably, the organization is not asking for damages in the lawsuit, just for McDonald's to stop advertising toys.