A federal judge in Chicago has rejected a class-action lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings that accused the restaurant chain of misleading customers about their boneless wing offerings.
Judge John Tharp Jr. dismissed the case on Tuesday, which was filed in 2023 by Aimen Halim. Halim argued that the restaurant deceived patrons by marketing boneless wings when the product is actually chicken nuggets rather than actual wing meat without bones.
The judge used some colorful language in his decision, writing that “Halim sued (Buffalo Wild Wings) over his confusion, but his complaint has no meat on its bones.” He continued the poultry puns, adding, “Despite his best efforts, Halim did not ‘drum’ up enough factual allegations to state a claim.”
Halim’s lawsuit claimed the restaurant’s marketing violated Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, arguing that advertising boneless wings as such misleads customers.
However, Judge Tharp determined that typical consumers wouldn’t be fooled into believing boneless wings contain actual wing meat. He made his point by comparing the situation to other menu items, stating, “If Halim is right, reasonable consumers should think that cauliflower wings are made (at least in part) from wing meat. They don’t, though.”
While the judge granted Buffalo Wild Wings’ motion to dismiss, he provided Halim an opportunity to revise his complaint. The plaintiff has until March 20 to file an amended lawsuit with additional evidence that might allow the case to proceed.
