Man starts lawsuit because of fast-food restaurant's advertising
Listen to the story (Hong Kong accent)
Last month, Frank Siragusa was interested in Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza after seeing pictures online. But when he bought one for $5.49, he felt it didn't look like the Mexican Pizza in the advertisements.
He has now started a class-action lawsuit against Taco Bell.
In a New York court, Siragusa said that Taco Bell advertised the Mexican Pizza with more beans and beef than what he actually got in his order. He says that the Mexican Pizza he bought had 50 percent less beans and beef.
The lawsuit also said that other popular items on Taco Bell's menu had more filling in their ads than what customers received. The lawsuit stated that the difference was "at least double the amount."
Siragusa showed pictures of the advertised food in the lawsuit. He compared those pictures to the pictures of food he and other customers got, which looked much smaller.
The lawsuit said this was not fair and the advertisements were misleading, especially when food prices are going up. The lawsuit mentioned that meat prices are high and many people, especially people with less money, are having a hard time.
Siragusa's lawyers, James Kelly and Anthony Russo, have done similar lawsuits before. They've sued other fast-food restaurants for misleading advertisements.
They even sued Burger King recently. The lawyers say that Burger King advertises bigger Whoppers than they serve to customers.
Siragusa wants $5 million for customers who bought Taco Bell food because of their unfair advertising.
Vocabulary22 words
- Feel
- to be aware of; to have an emotional response to something; to “think” or “believe”
- Advertisement
- marketing or sales material; a notice or sign to promote something
- Class-action lawsuit
- a lawsuit filed by a group of people who have been harmed by the same thing; When many people together say something is wrong and ask a court to help
- Lawsuit
- a complaint or disagreement that you bring to a court
- Advertise
- to promote; to market; to push; to make people aware; to show publicly
- Order
- the food, drinks, or things you asked to buy
- Filling
- the layer of food inside a sandwich, cake, etc; any material used to fill something
- Ad (advertisement)
- marketing or sales material; a notice or sign to promote something
- State
- To say or show something clearly
- At least
- The minimum or smallest amount or number of something
- Double
- two times more; 2x
- Amount
- quantity; number; total; sum; size
- Compare
- To look at two or more things and see how they are similar or different
- Fair
- to follow or go by the rules or standards; honorable; proper; agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable;
- Misleading
- giving people false information; When something makes you think or believe one thing, but it's not true.
- Especially
- to show that something is greater or more important than other things; particularly; notably; specifically; for the most part
- Mention
- to briefly or quickly talk about something; to say something, but not talk in detail about it
- Lawyer
- a person who studies and works with laws; attorney; solicitor
- Similar
- almost the same; alike
- Sue
- To take legal action against someone for doing something wrong or causing harm; to fight someone in a court of law;
- Serve
- to bring or give food/drink to someone
- Million
- 1,000,000 - one-million
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Last month, Frank Siragusa was _____ in Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza after seeing pictures online. But when he _____ one for $5.49, he felt it didn't look like the Mexican Pizza in _____ advertisements.
He has now started a class-action lawsuit _____ Taco Bell.
In a New York court, Siragusa said that Taco Bell _____ the Mexican Pizza with more beans and beef than what he _____ got in his order. He says that the Mexican Pizza he bought had 50 percent _____ beans and beef.
The lawsuit _____ said that other popular _____ on Taco Bell's menu had more filling in their ads than what customers received. The lawsuit _____ that the difference was "at least double the amount."
Siragusa _____ pictures of the advertised food in the lawsuit. He compared those pictures to the _____ of food he and other customers got, which looked _____ smaller.
The lawsuit said this _____ not fair and the advertisements were misleading, especially _____ food prices are going up. The lawsuit mentioned that _____ prices are high and many people, especially people with less money, are having a _____ time.
Siragusa's lawyers, James Kelly and Anthony Russo, have _____ similar lawsuits before. They've sued other fast-food restaurants _____ misleading advertisements.
They even sued Burger King _____. The lawyers say that Burger King advertises bigger Whoppers than they _____ to customers.
Siragusa wants $5 million for customers who _____ Taco Bell food because of their unfair advertising.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever been disappointed by something you bought because it didn't match what you saw in an advertisement? Can you share the story?
- In your opinion, is it fair for Frank Siragusa to ask for $5 million from Taco Bell? Why or why not?
- Do you think it's important for food to look like the pictures in advertisements? Why or why not?
- What do you think should happen if a restaurant's food looks different from what's shown in ads?
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