Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over 'Boneless Wings' at Buffalo Wild Wings

Plaintiff claimed 'boneless wings' were misleading, but court ruled a reasonable customer would not think they were actual chicken wings.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A judge has dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Buffalo Wild Wings violated consumer protection laws by labeling its 'boneless wings' as wings when they are more akin to chicken nuggets. The plaintiff, Aimen Halim, filed the complaint in 2023 claiming he would not have purchased the boneless wings had he known they were not deboned chicken wings. However, the judge ruled that a reasonable customer would not be misled by the 'boneless wings' label, and threw out the case.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlighted an ongoing debate over what constitutes a 'wing' versus a 'nugget' when it comes to boneless chicken products. While some consumers may feel deceived, the court determined that Buffalo Wild Wings' labeling was not misleading under the law.

The details

Halim filed the complaint in Chicago in March 2023, alleging that Buffalo Wild Wings' use of the term 'boneless wings' violated consumer protection laws by misleading customers. He claimed he would not have purchased the boneless wings had he known they were more akin to chicken nuggets than actual chicken wings. The judge gave Halim additional time to provide more supporting facts, but ultimately ruled that a 'reasonable customer would not think that BBW's boneless wings were truly deboned chicken wings.' The judge dismissed the case, stating Halim did not provide enough evidence to support his claim.

  • Halim filed the complaint in March 2023.
  • The judge made the final ruling on the case in February 2026.

The players

Aimen Halim

The plaintiff who filed the lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, claiming their 'boneless wings' were misleadingly labeled.

Judge John Tharp Jr.

The judge who presided over the case and ultimately dismissed Halim's lawsuit, ruling that a reasonable customer would not be misled by Buffalo Wild Wings' labeling of 'boneless wings'.

Buffalo Wild Wings

The restaurant chain that was sued over its use of the term 'boneless wings' to describe its chicken products.

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What they’re saying

“A reasonable customer would not think that BBW's boneless wings were truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing.”

— Judge John Tharp Jr., Presiding Judge

“Despite his best efforts, Halim did not 'drum' up enough factual allegations to state a claim.”

— Judge John Tharp Jr., Presiding Judge

What’s next

There are no clear next steps related to this case, as the judge has dismissed the lawsuit.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over what constitutes a 'wing' versus a 'nugget' when it comes to boneless chicken products. While some consumers may feel misled, the court determined that Buffalo Wild Wings' labeling was not deceptive under the law.