A 'bloody' $4M award for teen
YOU MIGHT pay a few bucks for a box of Band-Aids, but one bandage in particular will cost the Grand King Buffet (Snyder Plaza) $4 million.
That's what a Philadelphia jury awarded on Friday to 17-year-old Anastasia Roberts, who sued the Chinese restaurant in 2002 after chewing on a "bloody, pus-filled Band-Aid" in her food in October 2000.
After spitting out the bandage, found in her sweet potato balls, Roberts, of South Philly, ran from her table and vomited repeatedly outside, says her suit, which also claims Grand King threw the bandage away, destroying evidence.
When word spread, Roberts was ridiculed by classmates at Prep Charter High. Her attorney, Paul Czech, says she suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and still picks apart prepared foods, some of which can trigger vomiting.
Czech says Roberts, who hopes to become a nurse, is planning to start at Community College of Philadelphia in the fall.
For some reason, perhaps 'cause he'll get a cut of it, Czech didn't agree with us that $4 million seems a tad excessive. Czech says there's no plan yet for how and when Roberts will be paid.
A call to Grand King's attorney to see if the decision will be appealed was not returned yesterday.
