BURGER KING SUED OVER MARIJUANA IN POLICE OFFICERS' BURGERS

ALBUQUERQUE: Two police officers have sued Burger King Corp., alleging
personal injury, negligence, battery and violation of fair practices
after they were served hamburgers that had been sprinkled with marijuana.

"It gives a whole new meaning to the word 'Whopper,'" plaintiffs
attorney Sam Bregman said Monday. "The idea that these hoodlums would
put marijuana into a hamburger and therefore attempt to impair law
enforcement officers trying to do their jobs is outrageous."

The civil lawsuit was filed Friday in state District Court in
Bernalillo County by Mark Landavazo and Henry Gabaldon, officers for
the Isleta Pueblo tribal police.

Officials at Miami-based Burger King declined comment, citing a
company policy against discussing pending litigation.

The lawsuit says the officers were in uniform and riding in a marked
patrol car when they purchased meals through the drive-through lane
Oct. 8 at a Burger King restaurant in Los Lunas, New Mexico

The officers ate about half of their burgers before discovering
marijuana on the meat. They used a field test kit to confirm the
substance was pot, then went to a hospital for medical
evaluations.

Three Burger King employees - Justin Armijo, 19; Robert Nuckols, 21;
and manager Joseph Ledesma, 33 - were arrested and charged with
possession of marijuana and aggravated battery on an officer, a
felony. They subsequently were indicted.

The lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages to be determined
at trial, along with legal costs.

The incident has been publicized in late-night television jokes by
comedian Jay Leno and others, and Bregman acknowledged the situation
"seems somewhat humorous" at first glance. But he also called it
"deadly serious."

"God forbid these officers didn't realize their burgers were laced
with pot and then were called to a violent situation where they'd have
to draw their firearms," Bregman said. "Their lives were placed in
danger because of these idiots and Burger King."