Hoax Victim Testifies Against McDonald's
Victim of Hoax Strip Search Testifies in Civil Trial Against McDonald's
Louise Ogborn speaks through tears as she takes the stand Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, in Shepherdsville, Ky., in a $200 million civil lawsuit against McDonald's Corp. (Brian Bohannon/AP Photo)The Associated Press By BRETT BARROUQUERE Associated Press Writer
SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. Sep 20, 2007 (AP)
Share The victim of a hoax strip search at a McDonald's restaurant testified Thursday that she did not leave because she was afraid of what might happen if she did.
Louise Ogborn said a caller directing the strip search threatened her if she did not cooperate.
McDonald's Worker Strip Searched After HoursTop U.S. stories
"I was scared and I was petrified. I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't know if this was my last day on earth," the 21-year-old woman said.
Ogborn, whose testimony was punctuated with tears, said she does not remember any details from the ordeal that lasted more than three hours, during which she was forced to undress, be strip searched and perform sexual acts in an office at the McDonald's in Mount Washington.
Her testimony was expected to last most of the day.
Ogborn is suing McDonald's, claiming it failed to warn her and other employees about a hoax caller who had already struck other fast-food restaurants including several McDonald's across the country. Ogborn is also suing former assistant managers Donna Summers and Kim Dockery.
Summers' former fiance, Walter Nix Jr., pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing Ogborn during the 2004 strip search and is serving five years in prison. Summers entered an Alford plea meaning she did not admit guilt but acknowledged the evidence in the case to unlawful imprisonment and was placed on probation.
An attorney for McDonald's Corp. said in opening statements last week that the company had policies in place and had warned employees in an effort to deal with the strip search hoaxes. W. R. Patterson, the attorney for McDonald's, blamed employees' mistakes for the sexual assault.
Ogborn and her attorney, Ann Oldfather, also read on Thursday from four journal entries the young woman wrote in the months after the assault.
In an entry dated Dec. 18, 2004, Ogborn wrote: "I just ask why me. I can't think of any reason I deserved any of this."
A month later, she wrote, "I wonder what I'd be like if I blocked it out. Would I be a little better off? I just wish the pain would go away."
I remember reading this when it happened and thought there is no way anyone could be that stupid.
After seeing the picture and remembering this is Kentucky, I'm starting to re-evaluate.
So for tthree hours, this chick let two managers basically have a three way with her?
I guess 200M may help heal all those emotional scars.
Ponderous how society pays for the stupid.
