Florida Woman Awarded $14M After Swallowing Nail in Ice Cream

Jury finds Bruster's Ice Cream liable for serious medical complications after customer ingested metal fragments.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:35am

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A Florida woman has been awarded over $14 million in a lawsuit after she swallowed a nail and metal fragments found in a butter pecan ice cream cone she purchased from Bruster's Ice Cream in Palm Bay in 2018. The incident led to serious medical issues, including a blood clot and internal bleeding that required surgery and prevented her from having more children.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of food safety and quality control in the ice cream industry, as well as the potential for significant liability when contaminated products cause serious harm to consumers.

The details

Court documents state that Brandy Buckley was eating the ice cream with her son when she noticed something unusual in the cone. When she swallowed, she felt the object get stuck in her throat. Buckley went to the hospital, where X-rays confirmed she had swallowed a nail. She later underwent surgery to remove the nail and additional metal fragments. Buckley experienced serious medical complications, including portal vein thrombosis and internal bleeding, which required further treatment.

  • Buckley purchased the ice cream from Bruster's Ice Cream in Palm Bay, Florida in 2018.
  • Buckley went to the hospital for an X-ray after experiencing discomfort from swallowing the nail in 2018.
  • Buckley filed the lawsuit against Malabar Creameries, the company connected to the product, in 2019.
  • On March 24, 2026, a jury awarded Buckley $14 million in damages.

The players

Brandy Buckley

A Florida woman who purchased a butter pecan ice cream cone from Bruster's Ice Cream in 2018 and swallowed a nail and metal fragments, leading to serious medical complications.

Malabar Creameries

The company connected to the contaminated ice cream product that was the subject of Buckley's lawsuit.

Bruster's Ice Cream

The ice cream shop in Palm Bay, Florida where Buckley purchased the contaminated ice cream cone.

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What they’re saying

“'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

“'I developed a blood clot. I developed a blood clot. After that, that led me into an ablation to where I couldn't have any more children.'”

— Brandy Buckley

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of rigorous quality control and safety measures in the food industry, as well as the potential for significant legal liability when contaminated products cause serious harm to consumers. It also underscores the need for companies to prioritize consumer safety and take swift action to address any issues that arise.