A family received closure several years after a frightening incident that took place after a visit to a McDonald's in Tamarac, Florida. According to South Florida news station NBC6, the fast food chain was ordered to pay the family $800,000 in damages after their daughter was burned by an "unreasonably" hot Chicken McNugget.

Back in 2019, the child's mother, Philana Holmes, purchased Happy Meals for herself and her then four-year-old daughter, Olivia Caraballo. Upon receiving her drive-thru order, Holmes handed one of the meals to her daughter.

Shortly after, one of the McNuggets, which was said to be "unreasonably and dangerously" hot, became stuck in the child's car seat and burned her leg, causing second-degree burns.

In May 2023, a jury found that McDonald's and the franchise owners were at fault for the incident. And in July 2023, a jury was tasked with deciding how much they thought the family should receive in damages. Of the $15 million the family asked for, they were granted $800,000 by the jury.

Despite receiving far less than what they requested, Holmes revealed that she was pleased with the outcome.

"I honestly had no expectations, so this is more than fair for me. I'm actually just happy that they listened to Olivia's voice and the jury was able to decide a fair judgement. I'm happy with that," she said while speaking with NBC6.

Holmes also expressed her hope that McDonald's will eventually offer some kind of warning for parents when it comes to hot food.

"Hopefully they'll put warning signs on the nugget boxes so parents will know. And just in the future for parents to be more aware. Don't just take someone's word for it that it's warm. It could possibly be hot," Holmes said.

In 1994, a 79-year-old woman spilled extraordinarily hot McDonald's coffee on herself and suffered third-degree burns. According to Vox, "She just wanted McDonald’s to pay her medical expenses, estimated at $20,000. McDonald’s only offered $800, leading her to file a lawsuit." She ended up settling for less than $600,000.

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• I tried chicken tenders from 14 different fast-food chains.

• Chick-fil-A and KFC's chicken tenders were similar in their breaded texture.

• Raising Cane's impressed me with its crispy yet juicy tenders and delicious signature sauce.

The fast-food chicken wars have entered a new battleground — now, it's all about the tender.

McDonald's launched its McCrispy Strips in May last year, marking the first time chicken strips have been on the menu since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, a few months later, Wendy's launched its own Wendy's Tendys and a lineup of six new sauces made for dunking.

"Consumers told us what they wanted in a chicken tender, and we listened — taste-tested, fine-tuned, and delivered," Lindsay Radkoski, Wendy's US chief marketing officer, told Business Insider.

I decided to compare chicken tenders from 14 fast-food chains across the country to see which were the best.

Here's how the tenders ranked, from worst to best, based on taste and value.

Of all the chicken tenders I tried, Whataburger's didn't completely wow me.

A three-piece chicken tender cost $7.48 at Whataburger at the location I visited in Austin.

The chicken tenders were large and perfectly fried.

I thought the tenders could only be described as "classic" — they weren't anything out-of-the-box, but I enjoyed them.

The meat inside was juicy, but I thought the fried coating could have had a bit more crunch.

The chicken tenders tasted good on their own, as well as with ranch dipping sauce. They weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did think the other tenders I tried were slightly crispier and had just the slightest hint of more flavor in the batter.

Regardless, for a relatively low price, I'd definitely order these again.

I also ordered chicken tenders from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.

The three-piece "snack" cost $4.99, not including tax.

The chicken tenders were crispy on the outside.

They were also a good size. I thought the price was also a great deal for the generous portion I received.

However, there wasn't an abundance of chicken meat inside.

These were undeniably classic chicken tenders, similar to the ones from Whataburger, but they were a touch too fried for my liking. However, I thought they were well-seasoned and had a lot of peppery flavor.

Smashburger's chicken tenders were just slightly too fried for my liking.

An order of three chicken tenders from Smashburger costs $9.99, excluding tax and fees. I thought this was a little pricey.

The chicken tenders were heavily fried and bigger than other ones I tried.

The breading on the chicken tenders felt thick and crunchy.

The chicken tenders, overall, tasted dry, even when paired with sauce.

The chicken meat inside and the ranch dipping sauce provided could only do so much to offset the intense dryness of the crunchy breading.

The next time I order from Smashburger, I'll stick to the chain's beef offerings.

Next up were the crispy chicken tenders from Sonic Drive-In.

A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost $8.41, excluding tax.

The chicken tenders were evenly fried but on the thinner side.

Rather than thick and juicy like some of the other chicken tenders I tried, these were flatter. In fact, I'd say these were the thinnest and flattest tenders out of all the ones I tried.

I enjoyed the flavor of the seasoning, but there was a lot to be desired when it came to texture.

The chicken was on the drier side, and there simply wasn't a lot of it. I gravitate toward thicker, more shreddable chicken tenders, and these slightly missed the mark for me.

However, the flavor was definitely there — the breading had a peppery essence and the tenders were evenly fried.

My ninth favorite chicken tenders came from Popeyes.

A three-piece tender combo costs $16.89 before taxes and fees. The meal deal included a large serving of fries, a drink, and a biscuit, as well as a choice of dipping sauces.

The chicken tenders from Popeyes were crispy, flaky, and crunchy.

I really liked the crunchy exterior.

The meat inside was flaky and moist as well.

I also thought the batter was quite flavorful — I could taste hints of seasoning and buttermilk, although they weren't quite as buttery-tasting as the Chick-fil-A tenders.

However, this meal felt expensive for only three chicken tenders, even though they were large.

I thought the chicken tenders from Bojangles were flavorful and super crispy.

A four-piece chicken tenders combo, including fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit, cost me $10.49, excluding taxes and fees.

I thought the chicken tenders were a good size.

The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out.

The breading was peppery, just the right thickness, and perfectly encased the juicy white chicken meat inside.

I also thought the price was fair, considering the amount of food I received. The chicken tenders paired perfectly with honey mustard but were also tasty on their own.

I would definitely order these again.

Wendy's is the latest chain to bring out chicken tenders.

Wendy's new tenders are available in a three-piece or four-piece option. I ordered a three-piece tender for $8.12, excluding tax and fees, at my local restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.

The tenders were about the same size as the ones from McDonald's, but crispier.

However, I preferred the slightly thinner breading on the McDonald's and KFC tenders.

In terms of flavor, these tenders had a distinct peppery flavor that paired well with the new signature sauce introduced with the tenders' release.

These tenders were solid, and I'd order them again.

However, the slight lack of chicken meat inside — at least compared to other chains — and the chunky breading prevented Wendy's tenders from ranking higher for me.

KFC's original recipe chicken tenders really impressed me with their taste and value.

I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $13.65, excluding taxes and fees, in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was excellent value for the amount of food I received.

The tenders were well-breaded on the outside, though the breading wasn't as crispy or crunchy as others I tried.

The breading stuck closely to the chicken tenders, rather than having a thick or crunchy texture.

However, the chicken tenders paired well with the chain's honey mustard and new comeback sauce. The breading had a tasty, very peppery flavor to it that was unique compared to the other chicken tenders I tried.

The chicken tenders were flavorful and contained an impressive amount of white meat chicken.

However, the slightly less crispy texture of the breading meant they didn't come out on top when compared to the last six chains I tried.

McDonald's recently launched its new McCrispy Strips.

At my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, New York, three McCrispy chicken strips cost $10.99, excluding tax and fees.

The chicken strips were large and evenly coated in breading.

The chicken strips differed from the chain's buttermilk crispy tenders, which were discontinued in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chicken tenders haven't been on the menu since, despite fans' pleas to bring them back.

The breading was relatively thin, but very crispy.

Unlike some flakier chicken tenders, each bite was evenly coated in well-seasoned, peppery breading. Inside, the chicken meat was thick and juicy.

Paired with the chain's creamy chili sauce, which was specifically created to go with the chicken strips, these packed a decent amount of flavor.

However, on their own, I thought they were just a touch blander than some of the higher-ranked tenders I tried.

Taco Bell released chicken strips after bringing out nuggets last year.

Taco Bell's chicken strips were available as part of three different kinds of tacos and burritos, or on their own with dipping sauce.

An order of four chicken strips and two sauces cost $9.14, excluding tax and fees.

The chicken strips were thick, juicy, and the ideal level of crispy.

The chicken strips were marinated in zesty jalapeño buttermilk and breaded with crispy tortilla chips and breadcrumbs, which is the same formula as the chain's chicken nuggets, which I ranked as my favorite across six chains.

The chicken strips packed a lot of flavor.

The breading was super flavorful, and I definitely got hints of tortilla chip. The chicken inside was also moist and juicy, while the breading remained crispy.

My only real complaint was that I wanted more than two.

Chick-fil-A's chicken tenders were perfectly crispy and juicy.

When it's not included in a meal deal, a three-piece chicken tender costs $9.69 at my nearest location in New York City. For a meal, the price bumps up to $17.35, excluding tax and fees.

Some of the chicken pieces looked slightly darker and more fried than others.

Small bits of fried breading were scattered on the outside, which I always love with chicken tenders.

The chicken tenders were nicely fried but still juicy on the inside.

When I dipped them in the chain's signature Chick-fil-A sauce, the experience was mouthwatering.

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The chicken tenders were also great on their own, with the perfect balance of crispy breading and a delicious, briny flavor. The sauce just took them over the edge.

Wingstop's chicken tenders came in third place.

Wingstop recently revamped its chicken tenders, and I was excited to try them out.

The chain sells its chicken in various flavors, from original hot to hickory-smoked barbecue and mango habanero. However, I ordered these chicken tenders plain.

I ordered a five-piece chicken tender combo at my local Wingstop in Brooklyn, New York. It cost $15.39 and came with a drink, dipping sauce, and a regular side of fries.

The chain also sells four chicken tenders, which come with one dipping sauce, for $10.69, plus tax and fees.

The chicken tenders were large and well-breaded.

The chicken tenders were deep golden in color and evenly fried, with small clumps of fried breading adding even more texture to every bite.

These tenders were filled with real chicken.

The chicken tender easily tore apart with every bite, which is something I look for. The breading itself was slightly peppery, but not overly flavorful. They paired well with Wingstop's signature ranch — my favorite of any fast-food ranch — and the chain's honey mustard.

Wingstop delivered great classic tenders, though the breading didn't pack as much flavor as the top two chains I tried. Nevertheless, I'd definitely order these again.

My second favorite chicken tenders came from Zaxby's.

A five-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a small drink, coleslaw, and a piece of Texas toast. I also asked for a side of honey mustard and Zaxby's famous Zax sauce.

My meal cost $15.43, excluding taxes and fees.

The breading of the chicken tenders was similar to Chick-fil-A's in consistency, flavor, and texture, but I thought these ones had more meat.

The breading was crispy and flavorful, with a slight sweetness.

The chicken tenders held their own without sauce but were really taken to the next level when dipped in the tangy Zax sauce.

Zax sauce tastes similar to the Cane's sauce I tried from Raising Cane's, but I found it to be just ever-so-slightly less flavorful, and creamy. I also thought it didn't have the same kick.

However, the chicken tenders really impressed me. They were a good size, extremely flavorful, and addictingly delicious. I found myself craving even more than the five chicken tenders I was given, which is rare for me.

In the end, it was a really tough call on whether I preferred Zaxby's or Raising Cane's chicken tenders.

But my favorite chicken tenders came from Raising Cane's.

A combo that includes three chicken fingers, fries, Cane's sauce, Texas toast, and a regular drink costs $12.19, excluding tax and any additions or swaps.

The chicken tenders were super crispy.

The chicken tenders were also thick. After biting in, I could actually see the strips of white chicken underneath, which, in my experience, you don't always find with fast-food chicken tenders.

The chicken tenders were crispy and juicy on the inside — I had to give them the win.

I tried the tenders on their own and with the Cane's sauce. On their own, the tenders were simply everything one could ask for: thick, juicy, and crispy on the outside.

However, the chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after biting in, I could definitely see why. It had a slight kick to it, and it was creamy and surprisingly tangy. It paired perfectly with the chicken and was unlike any other sauce I've ever tried.

In the end, Raising Cane's took home the win for me with the chain's near-perfect chicken tenders and fair prices.

Read the original article on Business Insider

NEED TO KNOW

• Kentucky resident Rhonda Smith is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for more than $50,000, per a complaint filed on Dec. 22, 2025

• In the filing, she claims to have suffered a "permanent injury" after she tripped on the trolley tracks at Magic Kingdom

• Smith alleges she was not properly warned of the “dangerous conditions” of the tracks and that Disney failed to maintain them in a “reasonably safe condition”

• In Disney’s Jan. 20 response, the park claims the tracks are “open and obvious” and that the incident was a result of Smith’s own negligence

Disney World is responding to a lawsuit filed by a park guest who claims she was left permanently injured after tripping on the trolley tracks at Magic Kingdom.

Kentucky resident Rhonda Smith alleges she sustained “serious injuries” after her foot got caught in the track on Main Street U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, according to her initial complaint filed on Dec. 22, 2025 in the Florida Circuit Court in Orange County, Fla.

She alleges in the filing obtained by PEOPLE that the area she was walking on had “embedded steel rails and flangeways” for the trolley, and that they created gaps and changes in level on the pedestrian walkway.

Per the complaint, Smith claims Disney acted negligently by “failing to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition” and failing to “warn of any dangerous conditions” despite having a “non-delegable duty” to do so.

As a result of the incident, Smith allegedly sustained “bodily and terminal injury including a permanent injury to her body as a whole,” according to the filing.

She also claims to have endured “pain and suffering of both a physical and mental nature, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, aggravation of an existing condition” as well as “past lost wages, loss of earning power, diminished earning capacity.”

According to the filing, the “losses” she experienced are permanent and she alleges she will “suffer in the future.” As a result, she's suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for damages that exceed $50,000 and requested the matter be brought to a jury trial.

PEOPLE has reached out to Smith’s attorney for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

In Disney’s answer to her complaint, filed on Jan. 20, the park claims that the trolley tracks on Main Street in Magic Kingdom are “open and obvious.” Thus, Smith was “negligent” in this case and “owed a duty to use reasonable care for her own safety.”

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Per the filing, Smith “breached her duty by failing to pay adequate attention to her surroundings” and “failing to observe or appreciate the condition(s) alleged in the Complaint, assuming the risk of injury, and/or otherwise failing to take precautions to avoid the incident."

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Owing to her alleged negligence, the park is claiming she’s “more than 50% responsible” for her injuries.

The filing also claims that the injuries and damages she allegedly sustained were a “result of other issues or medical conditions and were not caused or aggravated" by the incident.

Disney also “demands a trial by jury,” per the filing. PEOPLE reached out to a representative for the park, as well as the park’s attorney, for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Read the original article on People

NEED TO KNOW

• A hospital in Florida threw a special wedding for a bride who suffered severe burns in a BBQ accident just over a month prior

• Arianna Esquiline, 34, and her fiancé, Elvin, said their "I dos" in the chapel at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital on Thursday, Feb. 12

• "Arianna’s story is a reminder that love and hope can show up even in the hardest moments," the hospital wrote in a Facebook post

A hospital in Florida helped a burn victim have a wedding to remember.

On Thursday, Feb. 12, staff at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital arranged for Arianna Esquiline, 34, and her fiancé, Elvin, to tie the knot in a special ceremony after the couple got engaged last May, per NBC 6 South Florida.

The wedding comes more than a month after Arianna suffered severe third-degree burns on Jan. 3 following an accident with a barbecue grill while she was on vacation in Miami, the outlet noted.

Despite her recent injuries, Arianna was adamant that she wanted to still marry the love of her life, and she didn't want to wait any longer.

The hospital wrote in a Facebook post on Friday, Feb. 13, "Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Arianna’s story is a reminder that love and hope can show up even in the hardest moments. 💙"

"Arianna, 34, is recovering in HCA Florida Kendall Hospital's Trauma/Burn Intensive Care Unit after suffering third-degree burns to over 34% of her body in a BBQ accident," the post stated.

It continued, "While in the hospital, she and her fiancé, Elvin, decided they didn’t want to wait any longer to get married."

The hospital said their teams "coordinated a wedding in the hospital chapel" with Arianna's "care team close by, and her mom and mother-in-law by her side."

"With no officiant available, our COO, Joe Britner, stepped in to officiate," the post added.

Britner shared of the couple's special day, “As a hospital family, we are honored to support our patients not only in their healing, but in life’s most meaningful moments,” adding, “Today was a beautiful reminder of resilience, love, and the compassion of our care teams,” per the Facebook post.

Dr. Jonathan Freedman, a burn surgeon at the hospital, said of Arianna, “She has made an unbelievable turn and improved in her recovery, and we are all very proud of her,” according to NBC 6 South Florida.

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“After the whole process here, I asked if she still wanted to get married to me, and she said yes," Elvin said, per the outlet. "I said we will get married and she said now, right now in the hospital.”

Elvin managed to secure a marriage license and help plan the whole thing within two weeks, NBC 6 South Florida reported.

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Arianna, who is still recovering in the burn trauma intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital, faces multiple surgeries in the coming weeks, before rehabilitation, NBC 6 South Florida noted. The couple then plans to return to their home in Fort Myers.

Arianna told the outlet that the accident had made her realize what's important in life.

“After this happened, it made me realize this is the man I want in my life,” she told the station from her hospital bed. “I am thankful for all the doctors and nurses that take care of me.”

HCA Florida Kendall Hospital didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

Read the original article on People

NEED TO KNOW

• Joanne Julkowski, who attended Donny Osmond's Las Vegas residency at Harrah's, is suing Osmond, his production company, and Harrah's, alleging she was injured by an oversized prop during his show

• Julkowski alleges she was struck by an inflatable lit-up ball in the audience and suffered "traumatic retinal injury and retinal detachment to her right eye requiring surgical intervention" as well as "severe emotional distress," according to the complaint

• She is seeking $15,000 in damages

A Donny Osmond concertgoer is suing the performer and the venue of his Las Vegas residency, alleging she was struck by an inflatable lit-up ball in the audience.

Joanne Julkowski, a resident of Illinois, is suing Osmond, 68, his production company Donny Osmond Concerts, and Harrah's Las Vegas, alleging negligence. Julkowski's filing alleges that Donny Osmond Concerts and Harrah's were negligent in their "hiring, training, retention, and supervision" of employees, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Julkowski, who filed her lawsuit in Nevada's Clark County District Court on Feb. 10, is seeking $15,000 in damages as compensation for "severe emotional distress, including psychological trauma, fear, anxiety, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life," caused by the incident, according to the lawsuit.

The suit additionally seeks unspecified punitive damages, lost wages, and payment of attorney's fees, per the filing.

"Ms. Julkowski went to the Donny Osmond show expecting a fun, family‑friendly experience and instead left with a serious, life‑altering injuries that continue to affect her daily life," her attorney Lindsay Roginski tells PEOPLE in a statement. "It is unacceptable for a venue and a performer to place entertainment value over the safety of their patrons and fans. The choice to launch large objects into a crowd of people with no regard for their safety must be addressed and damages resulting from it must be remedied."

In the suit, Julkowski claims that she suffered a "traumatic" retinal injury and retinal detachment in her right eye, requiring surgical intervention and resulting in visual impairment, as well as concussion-related head, and neck injuries.

Julkowski claims that the injuries required "extensive medical care, services, and treatment for her injuries, and may, in the future, be required to obtain additional future medical care" due to the defendants' alleged negligence.

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"The suit alleges that Harrah's, the casino that hosts Osmond's residency, "breached its duties of care" by "permitting oversized lighted balls to be thrown, launched, and/or propelled into a crowded, dimly lit audience area."

Harrah's also allegedly failed to "enforce adequate safety policies" and provide a "warning" for attendees when using props like the oversized balls, the lawsuit claims.

PEOPLE has reached out to a representative for Osmond and a representative for Caesar's Entertainment, which owns Harrah's, for comment.

Read the original article on People