McDonald’s loses strip hoax verdict

shepherdsville, ky. -- A jury awarded $6.1 million Friday to a woman who said she was forced to strip in a McDonald’s back office after someone called the restaurant posing as a police officer.

Louise Ogborn, 21, had sued McDonald’s Corp., saying the firm failed to warn her and other workers about the caller who already had struck other McDonald’s stores and other fast-food restaurants across the country.

Ogborn had sought $200 million. McDonald’s Corp. attorneys said the company was not responsible and said it was being sued because of its deep pockets.

McDonald’s may 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.

Ogborn accused the company of negligence leading to the events in April 2004, when she was detained for 3 1/2 hours.

In the suit, she said someone called the restaurant in Mount Washington, Ky., impersonating a police officer and described a young female employee, accusing her of stealing from a customer. The caller instructed an employee to strip-search the woman, according to testimony.

Ogborn was forced to endure a strip-search and perform sex acts, the suit said. The events were caught on surveillance video, which was shown to jurors.