Jury rules McDonald’s not liable for Port St. Lucie man’s carjacking, shooting
September 10th, 2009 by Daphne DuretSTUART — A Martin County jury this morning sided with a Jensen Beach McDonald’s in a lawsuit from a Port St. Lucie man nearly killed when two teens carjacked him from the fast-food chain’s parking lot and eventually shot him.
John Mario in January 2006 was on a dinner break from his job at a Jensen Beach Lowe’s when the teens abducted him at gunpoint from the McDonald’s near the Treasure Coast Square Mall. Mario and his wife Grace subsequently sued the restaurant, saying the teens would have been deterred had it not been for poor security in the area.
McDonald’s attorney Joseph Bottiglieri told jurors in his closing arguments at the end of the trial Wednesday that though Mario’s shooting was tragic, there was nothing McDonald’s officials could have done to prevent it.
The jury of three men and three women ultimately ruled in favor of McDonald’s after three hours of deliberations between Wednesday and this morning.
Quentin Bradley, the man who shot Mario, was sentenced to life in prison on charges connected to the case. An accomplice, Tyrone Wyche, is serving a 7-year sentence.
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September 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I hope they charged him for every bit of court time he wasted! That is rediculous McDonalds not haveing enough security?!? No sh!t genius! Its tragic what happened but he was just trying to make a buck out of it!
September 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Another family looking to get rich quick of some BS. I’m sorry your family member was killed, but WTF??? How in the world could you possibly say McDonalds was at fault! Come on! Obviously all you and your attorney could see was dollar signs. Next, you’ll be suing the government because the little thug animals that killed him grew up in a ghetto, and were not given enough government assitance to prevent them from becoming scum bags. When that doesn’t work, you’ll sue the government BECAUSE they DID give his momma welfare all their lives and it is the governments fault that welfare breeds animals…
September 10th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
The jury was correct in not finding McDonalds responsible for this incident. How about holding the suspects liable for their actions??? That is the problem with this country, nobody is held accountable for their actions…. shoot someone, sue the gun maker….run from the police, sue them for making you crash…..buy a house you can’t offord, ask the goverment to bail you out….. What a joke…..people wake up!
September 10th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Now if the victim had spilled a hot cup of coffee on his crotch during the abduction …. well that would have made this a whole different ending.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
This remark is for only in america says.Just because you are on welfare that dose not mean you brred animals. you are the real animal for having such a narrow mind. if you never been there than dont speak. one thing i do know you put the I in ignorance.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
This remark is for only in america says.Just because you are on welfare that dose not mean you breed animals. you are the real animal for having such a narrow mind. if you never been there than dont speak. one thing i do know you put the I in ignorance.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I hope Mikey D’s goes after the lawyers for all costs. WHAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY IS TORT REFORM. LOSERS PAY!!! That would also have a HUGE impact on the health care system too.
September 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
pretty sure these are animals who shot that dude. Typical black pieces of shat. Someone needs to sue those punks that are wasting our tax money being defended by public defenders.
September 10th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Re: John……..buy a house you can’t offord, ask the goverment to bail you out….. What a joke…..people
John, what about all the billion dollar company who continue to get welfare, and bailouts to the tune to trillions…whose holding them accountable…you talk about waking up…while we let the CORPORATE MONGRELS feed on us!
September 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
9/10/09
I’ve followed this story and read the comments thus far…
You people have missed the point entirely. McDonald’s has lots of cameras inside to protect against crimes like stealing food or money from the stores and this protection works - crimes against the store are way down as the result. But there is no protection whatsoever for all of the customers, who now must proceed at their own risk rather than having outside cameras to lower crimes against the customers as well. Too bad you cannot see past your noses!
September 10th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
“T” must be black and welfare.
September 11th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
i agree with cadet major. in the mcdonalds operations and training manual it says people can eat in thier cars but the store must provide security for them where as their pocket security guide says customers cannot eat in thier cars but the store must post no loitering signs and make sure that people are leaving after they get thier food, but mcdonalds does not do either. in fact their are 16 cameras at the store 12 inside including the one watching boxes in the meat cooler and the 4 outside are all dedicated to the drive thru. although it is important to protect the money and prevent theft mcdonalds should be protecting the customers as well because without customers there is no need for mcdonalds or the money and food they are protecting