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Date: 12-15-1997
Case Style: United States of America v. Michael F. Zanakis
Case Number: Unknown
Judge: Unknown
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Plaintiff's Attorney: Assistant United States Attorney Leonard Lato
Defendant's Attorney: Jeh Johnson
Description: Three counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud and two counts of extortion for a scheme which targeted McDonald's and Tri-Mac Management, Inc., by claiming that McDonald's sold him a happy meal with a fried rat's tail in the french fries. The government based its case on the fact that the rat's tail was from a rattus norvegicus (white lab rat) and the fact that Defendant worked in a research lab. Defendant was also charge with defrauding Coca-Cola and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York out of $4,600 by claiming he had ingested "small bits of greasy particles" from a Classic Coke he drank.
Outcome: Guilty
Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown
Defendant's Experts: Unknown
Comments: None