The mother of the 13-year-old girl who was physically attacked by a woman inside a Southern California McDonald’s is taking legal action against the fast-food chain and the adult assailant. According to reports, the lawsuit has been filed against McDonald’s and the accused adult, Ariana Lauifi, in connection with an incident that transpired in September.
Angelina Gray, the mother of Kassidy Jones, expressed her heartbreak over the brutal attack her innocent daughter endured. She lamented that the staff and managers at McDonald’s failed to intervene, but stood by and watched the abuse unfold instead.
McDonald's sued by teen's mother after attack, claims restaurant failed to prevent or aid in child's beating https://t.co/padgfH4ozH
Sorry your child was hurt, unfortunately it’s all 2 common ! But McDonalds is Not responsible for people who walk in the door and attack folks🇺🇸
— Robert A (@ras1863) November 4, 2023
Jones had recounted how she and her classmates had stopped at the fast-food establishment on their way home from school on September 6. It was during this visit that an unidentified woman cornered her and initiated the attack. Jones vividly remembered the woman’s menacing words, saying, “What the F are y’all looking at? I fight kids. I fight you.”
Disturbing videos of the altercation spread on social media, capturing the distressing moments when Jones was forcibly dragged to the floor, punched, and had her hair pulled. Onlookers could be heard shouting and recording the incident on their phones, but the only person who came to the girl’s aid was a man reportedly accompanying the suspect.
Kassidy’s mother swiftly contacted the police and rushed her injured daughter to the hospital, where she was found to be swollen and bruised. The unidentified woman, who later turned out to be 31-year-old Lauifi, was taken into custody on September 28 on suspicion of felony child abuse.
In response to the incident, McDonald’s issued a statement expressing their horror over the violent attack. The statement revealed that employees had promptly contacted the police when the altercation began and cooperated closely with local law enforcement during the ensuing investigation.
However, the family’s attorney, Toni Jaramilla, contended that McDonald’s had not done enough to ensure the safety of its customers. Jaramilla asserted that Kassidy’s injuries could have been prevented, and the young girl should have received assistance after the attack. The attorney firmly believed that this distressing situation should never have occurred.
As this lawsuit unfolds, it underscores the delicate balance that businesses like McDonald’s must strike between their obligation to provide a safe environment for customers and the rights of employees to choose not to intervene in potentially violent situations.
