Claim Jumper settles suit over condom in soupClaim Jumper settles suit over condom in soup

Lisa Jennings

Claim Jumper Restaurants has settled a lawsuit filed by an Orange County, Calif., man who said he found a used condom in his French onion soup.

The terms of the settlement reached Wednesday were not disclosed. Earlier this month, however, the Orange County Register reported that the plaintiff, Philip Hodousek declined a $30,000 settlement by the company because he wanted vindication in court for his “tarnished reputation.”

While the settlement includes no admission of liability by Claim Jumper, the chain said in a joint statement prepared by lawyers for both sides that it “sincerely regrets, and apologizes for, statements which have appeared in the media which have cast Mr. and Mrs. Hodousek, in an unfavorable light. With the conclusion of this litigation, Claim Jumper wishes the plaintiffs well and sincerely hopes that they are successful in putting this regrettable incident behind them.”

Hodousek filed the lawsuit in July 2009 in California Superior Court in Orange County seeking damages after the April 12 incident. Hodousek and his wife had visited a Claim Jumper in Santa Ana, Calif., where he ordered the French onion soup.

According to the lawsuit, Hodousek said he found what initially appeared to be a rubbery lump of cheese that he couldn’t chew, which later turned out to be a condom.

Irvine, Calif.-based Claim Jumper has 46 restaurants.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].