Cracker Barrel is ordered to pay $9.4m to customer who was served glass of corrosive cleaning agent Eco-San - instead of water - causing permanent injuries to his mouth and throat
A Tennessee man who took a sip of water at a Cracker Barrel in 2014 only to realize he had just swallowed a corrosive kitchen cleaner was awarded $9.4 million by a jury, far above the $150,000 he originally asked for.
William Cronnon was awarded $3.6 million in non-economic damages, such as pain and emotional distress, and $730,000 in economic damages by a Marion County jury on January 6. The jury also awarded him $5 million in punitive damages, according to court documents.
'The jury returned a verdict for compensatory damages of $4.3 million in just 30 minutes - one of the fastest verdicts we have ever seen - and awarded punitive damages of $5 million after only 10 minutes of additional deliberation,' Cronnon's lawyer Thomas Greer told CNN.
'The speed of the verdict, combined with an amount in excess of what we asked, speaks to just how dangerous the Cracker Barrel policy was,' Greer said.
However, Cronnon is unlikely to receive the whole sum based on a Tennessee law that caps compensation for punitive and non-economic damages at $750,000.
Cronnon was having lunch at a Cracker Barrel in April 2014 when he was served the kitchen cleaner Eco-San, leaving him with 'permanent and serious internal physical injury,' according to a three-page lawsuit filed in 2015.
William Cronnon had lunch at a Cracker Barrel in April 2014, when he was served the kitchen cleaner Eco-San instead of water
In a three-page lawsuit filed in 2015, he said the chemical 'caused a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus'
The chemical 'caused a burning sensation in his mouth and esophagus,' the lawsuit alleged.
The National Fire Protection Association categorizes the chemicals in Eco-San as 'extremely dangerous,' according to WTVC.
Court documents do not state who provided Cronnon with the poisonous beverage.
Court documents say the container was kept in unmarked pitchers, but Cracker Barrel told DailyMail.com that their policy 'has been, and continues to be, to never put chemicals in any unmarked containers.'
The National Fire Protection Association categorizes the chemicals in Eco-San as 'extremely dangerous'
The Tennessee-based Southern food chain said it was 'disappointed' with the jury's award.
'While we have great respect for the legal process, we are obviously disappointed by and strongly disagree with the jury’s award in this case, which involved an unfortunate and isolated incident that occurred at one of our stores eight years ago,' the company said in a statement.
'Although we are considering our options with respect to this verdict, we are glad this matter is behind us so we can better focus on caring for our guests and employees around the country.'
Greer, Cronnon's attorney, slammed the company when speaking to WTVC.
'Instead of taking personal responsibility and personal accountability for their conduct, they abused the court system by denying that they did anything wrong,' he said.
Attorney Thomas Greer says his client, Cronnon, is still suffering from injuries to his mouth and esophagus and that he expects Cracker Barrel to appeal the jury's verdict
'They will likely appeal this verdict and do everything in their power to avoid paying this man a penny. And I will be prepared to fight for him.'
He says Cronnon is still suffering from injuries to his mouth and esophagus.
'Cracker Barrel's negligence didn't just cause Mr. Smith physical harm; it took away part of his identity,' Greer said, according to CNN.
Greer's office did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
On Saturday, a Cracker Barrel manager in Texas was shot dead while she tried to help a co-worker who had just gotten to work escape a gunman.
Robin Baucom, 59, was a manager at a Cracker Barrel in Houston, where she had worked for 34 years until Saturday
Photos released by the Harris County Sheriff's Office show a suspect clad in all-black and the metallic gray Dodge Charger used in the shooting
Mourners gathered at the Cracker Barrell on North Freeway in Houston on Sunday
Robin Baucom, 59, was shot in the torso and rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where she later died, according to Harris County deputies.
The incident happened at a Cracker Barrel on North Freeway in Houston after Buacom's colleague arrived at about 6.15am, KTRK reports.
Deputies say the co-worker was suddenly approached by a man in the passenger seat of a 2018 or newer metallic gray Dodge Charger. The man allegedly got out of the car and tried to grab the employee's purse.
Baucom, a manager at the restaurant who was already inside, let her employee in and pushed back on the door to stop the man from entering. He then pulled out a gun and shot Baucom.
Authorities are still searching for the shooter. Baucom is survived by a husband, three kids and three grandkids, according to KHOU.
No comments