By BRUCE SCHREINER, Associated Press Writer
Fri Oct 5, 5:48 PM ET



A jury awarded $6.1 million Friday to a woman who was forced to strip for a search in a McDonald's back office after someone called the restaurant posing as a police officer reporting a theft.

Louise Ogborn, who was 18 during the 3 1/2-hour ordeal, was forced to undress and perform sexual acts with the boyfriend of a former assistant manager at the restaurant while the man was on the phone with the bogus caller, according to a surveillance video shown to jurors during the four-week trial.

Ogborn, now 21, sued McDonald's Corp., claiming the fast-food giant failed to warn her and other employees about the caller who already struck other McDonald's stores and other fast-food restaurants across the country. She sought $200 million in damages, but McDonald's argued the company was not responsible and was being sued because of its deep pockets.

The jury award $5 million in punitive damages and about $1.1 million in compensatory damages.

Juror Kay Parrish told reporters the amount awarded will enable Ogborn to "live well the rest of her life" and "put all this behind her."

A teary Ogborn hugged relatives after the verdict. She said she planned to use some of the money to attend law school.

"Louise has stood up for what happened to her and what McDonald's failed to do for three-and-a-half years, and this jury just vindicated her completely," said her attorney, Ann Oldfather.

McDonald's was evaluating whether to appeal the decision, a spokesman said.

"While we are disappointed with the verdict, we remain vigilant in our efforts to protect our employees and provide them with a safe and respectful workplace," said William Whitman, a spokesman for McDonald's USA.

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse. Ogborn's name, however, has appeared in numerous newspaper and broadcast stories with her permission.

The caller to the Mount Washington restaurant impersonated a police officer when he gave a description of a young, female employee accused of stealing from a customer, the lawsuit said. According to testimony, Ogborn fit the description, and the caller instructed an employee to conduct the search.

Donna Summers, a former McDonald's assistant manager who also sued the fast-food chain, led the strip search at the direction of the caller. Summers and Kim Dockery, another assistant manager, were named as defendants in Ogborn's suit, but the jury ruled they did not have to pay any damages.

Oldfather said Summers and Dockery were duped by the caller.

"Everybody is still suffering because of this, and now maybe McDonald's will suffer a little bit in the pocketbook," Oldfather said.

In deciding compensatory damages, the jury placed half the blame on McDonald's and the other half on the unnamed caller.

A Florida man, David Stewart, was acquitted last year on charges of making the hoax call. Police have said the calls stopped after Stewart's arrest.

Summers was placed on probation for a misdemeanor conviction in the case. Her former fiance, Walter Nix Jr., is serving five years in prison for sexually abusing Ogborn during the ordeal.

Hey, I'm a cop...tell some chick to get naked and have sex with a stranger.

hhhmmmmmmmm

interesting

why would someone be so scared of the police

to let such a thing happen

hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The whole incident is realy bizzare and weird and wrong.

All the same, I'm at a total loss as to how McDonalds could be held responsible for the incident?

I mean, it's not like it was in their policy for their employees to be either criminal or stupid.

I just don't understand how McDonalds could be considered to be at fault.

Not that I care. More power to the woman who got the millions!

But just the same, I still don't understand how McDonalds could be held responsible for the unauthorized actions of their employees. I mean, it wasn't like McDonald's told anyone to do that.

Was wondering why big macs went up 50 cents this week...now it all makes sense

seriously...it is these frivilous law suits that cost us all alot more money...she should be able to take recourse against the man posing as a cop who made the prank phone call...and maybe those responsible for the strip search...for they should have waited for the police to do that...but MC D's is hardly responsible for a crime commited on their property.

hmmm..that secret sauce on the big macs...not so secret anymore eh?

quickest stripper job in world history....
she IS a LEGAL ADULT. She COULD HAVE SAID...well you know....like FARK YOU!! I QUIT.

maybe people should know their rights and stand up for them

if she did that this would not of happened

she should go after the school she went to as well

for failing to teach govt class properly


shhhhhheeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

mcdonalds should appeal on the grounds

it not our fault she is stupid

but they had someone just as stupid working there

so maybe they will lose

besides maybe this was a copy kat with an alteerer motive

after all how much did they have to pay for selling hot coffee

A workplace has a duty to protect their employees of safety hazards, especially of known dangers. She was right to win.

anyone who allows themselves to be stripped searched in a mcdonalds back office is an idiot.I would demanded my parents prsence or at the very least said we will be waiting for the police.why was no one charged with rape??this whole thing is bizare,I don't see how McDonald's could have prevented her being a stupid ass...

Maybe she was just too scared and embarrassed.