CAN THIS LAWSUIT ELBOW ITS WAY TO A COURTROOM WIN? THE MAC AND CHEESE LEGAL DEBACLE
Here’s a fun fact for you: In the fall of 2022, a woman in Florida sued food giant Kraft Heinz — all because it took her a few extra minutes to prepare her mac and cheese. This may sound like a made-up plot straight out of “The Onion,” but it’s true! The woman’s name is Amanda Ramirez, and according to National Public Radio, she’s suing Kraft Heinz for $5 million over its “misleading advertising.” What exactly misled her? Well, Kraft’s cup of Velveeta Shells & Cheese claims it will be “ready in 3 1/2 minutes” — when in fact, that’s just the microwave time. Apparently, Ramirez felt betrayed when it took her slightly more than 3 1/2 minutes to peel the lid off the container and add water to the noodles. Her outrage only climbed as she waited for her pasta’s cheese sauce to thicken after 3 1/2 minutes of staring at the microwave
window. Before long, she was steaming over the notion that she’d been ripped off by a greedy manufacturer intent on selling false convenience.
Kraft to try to get the case dismissed, but the U.S. does have a history of successful lawsuits against misleading advertising by food companies. According to NBC News, a class-action lawsuit filed
NPR reports that Ramirez’s lawsuit reaches beyond her kitchen and even beyond the state of Florida. It “looks to cover consumers in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, New Mexico, Alaska,
over a non-GMO advertising campaign cost Chipotle $6.5 million in 2020. And just last spring, a Florida attorney went to bat against Burger King, claiming its Whoppers were smaller than advertised.
Iowa, Tennessee, and Virginia who purchased the mac and cheese cups during the applicable statute of limitations period.” Over 100 people fall into that category, maybe including you!
As we write this, the mac and cheese fiasco is still unresolved —
but you can bet we’ll be watching the news. We may even chow down on a bowl of Velveeta Shells while we do it!
Does Ramirez stand a chance? It’s hard to say. NPR reports that her legal team expects
KEEP YOUR BRAIN IN MIND
TOP SIGNS OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, brain injuries are one of the leading causes of disabilities and deaths in the U.S. Every year, roughly 2.8 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Surprisingly, trip and falls (48%) are the leading cause of TBIs. About 17% of TBIs result from striking an object, and 13% occur during car accidents. About 8% happen due to assaults by another individual, and the remaining 14% result from unknown or rare causes. This month is Brain Injury Awareness month, a time to raise awareness for this scary and potentially life-threatening injury. While TBIs and other brain injuries are relatively common, and most victims believe that after an accident, they are well aware of the injuries they sustained, sometimes a TBI can be overlooked until it’s too late. Their personal injury case is already settled. Injuries to bones and muscles may be repairable, but a brain injury can change a victim’s life forever and may impact relationships with spouses, children, and friends. It can even lead to difficulty continuing to work and may affect their overall quality of life. If you or a loved one has been in an accident, a victim of assault, or suffered a slip and fall and a TBI is suspected, here are some signs to be on the lookout for:
Mild TBIs •
Nausea
• • • •
Loss of smell
• • •
Excessive sleep
Sensitivity to bright lights
Depression
Seizures
Coordination difficulties
Memory loss
Moderate to Severe TBIs •
Clear fluid draining from ears or nose
•
Dilated pupils in one or both eyes Habitual vomiting Combative behavior
• • •
Severe depression Difficulty speaking Trouble walking
• •
It should be noted that sometimes, these symptoms may take weeks — or even months — to appear. That is why after any type of accident, injury, or fall, it’s essential to see a doctor immediately to be evaluated and screened accordingly. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Here at Polaris Injury Law, we are ready to step in and help — we just need you to ensure that you’re taking care of yourself and prioritizing your health right away! Contact us today to pursue your personal injury claim if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a brain injury.
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