Woman who found finger at Wendy's files claim against franchise

The San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | BRIAN SKOLOFF

[soundandvision]

A woman who bit down on a partial finger served in a bowl of chili at a Wendy's restaurant in California said she was disgusted by the experience while her attorney has filed a claim with the franchise owner.

Anna Ayala, 39, of Las Vegas, was dining at the Wendy's in San Jose, Calif., on March 22 when officials said she scooped up the inch-and-a-half long fingertip in a mouthful of chili.

"Just knowing that there was a human remain in my mouth ... it is disgusting. It is tearing me apart inside," Ayala told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday.

[soundandvision]

For once I'm okay with a suit against a company. Not that I would encourage it. But at least this one is believable.

After years of people finding a condom or toe nail or whatever in their food and suing for ridiculous amounts of money (those stories never set well with me, most of them were people out for a quick buck I think) this lady probably has them all beat.

And to think over a decade ago that lady got the money for the hot coffee in the lap...where is that person now anyway?

[Kenny Bunkport]

An inch-and-a-half long fingertip? Wendy's should have charged her extra.

[B Knotts]

Is anyone else growing suspicious of this claim? I don't know...but something just don't smell right.

[RushCrush]

This guy has been implicated in the crime.

[squirt-gun]

I know it was a terrible experience, but by the time the lawyers are done, the people who own the Wenys will loss everything they own,....The lawyers will get most of the ransom...... and the plaintiff will get enough to buy a new cadillac.

[nosofar]

After years of people finding a condom or toe nail or whatever in their food and suing for ridiculous amounts of money (those stories never set well with me, most of them were people out for a quick buck I think) this lady probably has them all beat.

The woman wasn't hurt at all. I'd think whoever lost the fingertip would have a bit more to say about it.

[Halls]

It might have been the chili that didn't smell right!

[antiRepublicrat]

That would mess me up! If Wendy's is at all smart they'll settle this as quickly and quietly as possible.

[MaryFromMichigan]

I don't know...but something just don't smell right.

I know, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

[GOP_Proud]

What kind of person loses an inch and a half of their finger and doesn't report it. Where is that hand?

[B Knotts]

*groan* :-)

[expatguy]

How come I never get to find a finger in my chili?

Life is not fair.

I hope the finger didn't have a booger on it - that would be gross.

[JFC]

I think Wendy's will forever been known for their"FINGER FOOD"

Sorry, I could not resist.

[muu]

I never thought of chili as finger food.....

[GaltMeister]

This story gives a whole new meaning to the term 'finger food'.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

It had to be a disgusting and horrible experience, but what kind of money does she deserve? She should get a formal apology. But you can't take something like that back. Exposure is its own form of punishment on the comapny. No doubt they will do all they can to make sure it never happens again. They will if they want to stay in business. But they cannot control every single employee.

I would be sick if it happened to me, but I hope that I would have the good character not to sue unless I was actually harmed, and then only for a reasonable settlement.

[jaydubya2]

I think you may not want to eat out again for a while. My wife got mild salmonella from a local restaurant. They always had good food, but she refuses to go there again.

[MeanWestTexan]

Brings a whole new meaning to "keep the tip."

Actually, that reminds me: what did the leper say to the prostitute?

[RetiredArmy]

What has me here is, has anyone come forward saying they were missing a finger tip? Like how did this happen and know one know that the finger tip could be there?

[atomicweeder]

Let me be the first to propose: whatever the settlement amount is, I'm willing to eat an entire cooked human hand for 1/2 the amount the attorneys get.