Jury Finds in Favor of Taco Bell in Liability Case

A jury has ruled in favor of Taco Bell in a premises liability lawsuit filed by Fredetta Wright of Hope.

On Monday morning, a panel of 12 jurors and one alternate was selected to hear the case in Howard County Circuit Court. Testimony was presented throughout the day from Wright, her husband. Wright’s primary care physician, and a representative from Husqvarna’s human resources department appeared via a recorded deposition.

Both sides rested their cases around 5:30 p.m. After receiving instructions from Judge Bryan Chesshir, the jury began deliberations. Less than an hour later, at 7:57 p.m., the panel returned a unanimous verdict against Wright.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2022, stemmed from an incident at the Taco Bell on South 4th Street in Nashville. According to the complaint, Wright was filling her drink at the restaurant’s beverage and ice dispenser when a metal panel detached from the machine and struck her on the head.

Wright testified that she sought treatment at Howard Memorial Hospital’s emergency room, where she was evaluated and released. Medical records listed her primary complaint as a headache, though she later reported experiencing neck pain.

However, Wright’s physician testified via recorded video that her neck issues were consistent with chronic deterioration associated with aging rather than the result of a traumatic injury.