Florida Woman Awarded $14M After Eating Ice Cream With Nails, Metal

Brandy Buckley consumed Bruster's Ice Cream containing nail and metal fragments, leading to medical complications.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 8:16pm

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A Florida woman named Brandy Buckley was awarded over $14 million by a jury after she consumed Bruster's Ice Cream that contained a nail and metal fragments, leading to medical issues including a blood clot and the inability to have more children.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of food safety and the responsibility of companies to ensure their products are free of dangerous contaminants. It also underscores the significant impact such incidents can have on individuals, both physically and emotionally.

The details

In 2018, Buckley purchased butter pecan ice cream from a Bruster's Ice Cream location in Palm Bay, Florida. While eating the ice cream, she discovered a metal nail embedded in the cone and had already taken a large bite. This led to Buckley swallowing the nail, which required surgery to remove it and other metal fragments. Buckley later developed a blood clot and was unable to have more children, something she had hoped for after previously losing a daughter.

  • Buckley purchased the ice cream from Bruster's in Palm Bay in 2018.
  • In 2019, Buckley's attorney filed a lawsuit against Malabar Creameries, the national franchisor of Bruster's Ice Cream.
  • In 2020, Malabar Creameries denied many of the claims in a response filed by their attorney.
  • On March 24, 2026, a jury awarded Buckley over $14 million for medical bills and pain and suffering.

The players

Brandy Buckley

A Florida woman who consumed Bruster's Ice Cream containing a nail and metal fragments, leading to medical complications.

Malabar Creameries

The national franchisor of Bruster's Ice Cream, which was sued by Buckley for negligence.

Scott Alpizar

Buckley's attorney who filed the lawsuit against Malabar Creameries and secured the $14 million jury award.

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What they’re saying

“I got to the light to scoop some of the ice cream out. I noticed there was a metal nail in like in the cone, almost embedded, it looked like in the cone.”

— Brandy Buckley

“When I did swallow, I did feel something in my throat that kind of got stuck. I thought it was a pecan because it was a butter pecan ice cream that I had purchased.”

— Brandy Buckley

“It was shocking. I started bawling.”

— Brandy Buckley

What’s next

Malabar Creameries, the parent company of Bruster's Ice Cream, is expected to appeal the $14 million jury award.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of food safety and the responsibility of companies to ensure their products are free of dangerous contaminants. It also underscores the significant impact such incidents can have on individuals, both physically and emotionally.