An Oklahoma woman is taking legal action against Arby’s following an alarming incident in which a former manager allegedly spat into her food, a move that led to the transmission of oral herpes. Jennica Church, the complainant, claims that this disturbing act occurred during a visit to the fast food chain’s Broken Bow location in late March.
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Church recounted the experience, describing the late-night drive-thru order she made after a lengthy work shift, during which she felt uneasy due to delays in service. “I thought they were mad at me because it was about to close,” she said in a recent interview. The manager on duty that night, Amanda Hendricks, was known to Church, but their relationship was not particularly significant.
According to the civil lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE, Hendricks, aged 38, was responsible for food preparation during the incident. Church alleges that Hendricks intentionally spat on the components of her meal, fully aware that she had an active herpes outbreak at the time. The complaint claims that Hendricks exhibited visible lesions from the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), which is commonly associated with oral herpes.
After receiving her order, Church took the food home to share with her family, including her husband’s grandmother, who was in hospice care and susceptible to infection. Shortly after consuming the meal, Church began experiencing flare-ups in her mouth unlike anything she had encountered before. Subsequent medical visits confirmed that she had tested positive for HSV-1.
The lawsuit asserts that Church was able to connect her infection to Hendricks due to their small-town dynamics, with allegations from Church stating that Hendricks had previously boasted about the act of contaminating food. The situation escalated when CCTV footage from the restaurant surfaced, showing Hendricks preparing the food and intentionally spitting on the items meant for Church.
When Church brought the allegations to the attention of Arby’s staff, she claims that instead of addressing the matter appropriately, they attempted to downplay the situation and offered her family “free sandwiches” as compensation. Church’s grandmother-in-law reported that the only financial restitution suggested was a mere five-dollar offer, which the family deemed an insult given the serious health implications involved.
The emotional impact of this ordeal has not gone unnoticed. Members of Church’s family have reported psychological distress, with Church’s grandmother-in-law expressing her concerns over how the incident has altered their family dynamics. “I see what it’s doing to my grandchildren, my son, my husband. I don’t want to kiss my husband. He ate the food! Because he hasn’t had an outbreak, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have it,” she stated.
The family’s attorney, Will Blocker, expressed outrage over the alleged inaction of the staff at Arby’s, claiming that those present knew about the incident and chose not to intervene. “They let it go all the way out the door, and my client now has a communicable disease,” Blocker asserted. He raised questions about the broader implications of such a culture within the franchise, referencing Flynn Restaurant Group, which owns numerous stores including the Broken Bow establishment.
The Church family is pursuing damages for medical expenses and the extensive emotional suffering they have endured throughout this experience. The gravity of the allegations has led to felony charges against Hendricks for poisoning food with the intent to harm. However, it remains unclear whether she currently has legal representation.
Attempts to reach Arby’s for comment on the matter have not yet yielded a response, leaving many questions unanswered. This lawsuit highlights the potential consequences of negligence in food safety and the significant health risks associated with such actions, underlining the need for stringent practices within the fast food industry. As the case unfolds, it is expected to draw increased attention to the responsibilities of food service employees and the importance of public health standards.