Florida jury awards $14M to woman who swallowed nails and metal fragments in ice cream

A Florida jury has awarded more than $14 million to a woman who unknowingly consumed metal fragments, including a nail, in her ice cream—an incident that led to severe medical complications and a years-long legal battle.

Brandy Buckley says the incident happened in 2018 after purchasing butter pecan ice cream from a Bruster’s Ice Cream location in Palm Bay. While sharing the treat with her son, she noticed something unusual embedded in the cone—a metal nail. By that point, she had already taken a bite and swallowed what she initially believed to be a pecan.

Concerned, Buckley went to the hospital for an X-ray, where doctors confirmed she had swallowed a nail. According to her attorney, surgeons later removed the nail along with additional metal fragments.

The medical ordeal didn’t end there. Buckley experienced serious complications, including internal bleeding and portal vein thrombosis, which required further treatment. She later developed a blood clot and underwent an ablation procedure that left her unable to have more children—something she said had been a lifelong goal.

In 2019, Buckley filed a negligence lawsuit against the franchise operator and the national brand behind Bruster’s Ice Cream. The defendants denied the allegations and argued the product was not defective, also claiming Buckley may have contributed to the incident.

After nearly eight years, a jury sided with Buckley, awarding damages for medical costs and pain and suffering. Her attorney says the defendants are expected to appeal the verdict, meaning it could take years before any compensation is finalized.

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