Q: Is there cause for a lawsuit after my experience at McDonald’s the other night? Employee at speaker was extremely rude
I went through drive through to get my child a free happy meal with my rewards. She was extremely rude as I order, after placing my order I proceeded to the 1st window (used for payment but a high percent of the time I’m told to skip this, if I don’t need to pay or I paid through the app already, especially if I don’t want the receipt). I paused at the window for a moment and the employee was watching on her phone, after her behavior I decided to not continue to wait and deal with more of her since I did not need to pay and the restaurant was not busy. As I pulled to the 2nd window the woman leaned out the window and began loudly and aggressively clapping her hands. It caused me much distress and I leaned out of my window to ask why she felt that was appropriate. I reversed back to the window where I told her I had the mobile order and didn’t want my reciept. She was rude, said she had to check me in and handed me the receipt. My husband says I should sue for the distress it caused me?
A:
I understand your experience at McDonald's was distressing, but the situation you described may not provide strong grounds for a lawsuit. In legal terms, for a lawsuit to be viable, there typically needs to be demonstrable harm or damage. Rude behavior from an employee, while certainly unpleasant, often does not meet the threshold of legal action, especially in cases where there is no physical harm or significant emotional distress.
To explore your options, you might first consider addressing this issue through McDonald's customer service channels. Companies often take customer complaints seriously and may offer some form of resolution or apology for your experience. This step is generally quicker and less complicated than legal proceedings.
If you feel strongly about the incident and believe it has caused you significant distress, consulting with an attorney can provide clarity. They can assess the specifics of your case and advise on whether legal action is a feasible or advisable course. Remember, each situation is unique, and professional guidance can help in navigating these complexities.
Terrence H Thorgaard agrees with this answer
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