Happy Meals Class Action|Tossed From State Court

(CN) - A San Francisco judge tossed out a class action that sought to stop McDonald's from offering children free toys to promote its Happy Meals.

Lead plaintiff Monet Parham claimed, "McDonald's exploits very young California children and harms their health by advertising unhealthy Happy Meals with toys directly to them. Children eight years old and younger do not have the cognitive skills and the developmental maturity to understand the persuasive intent of marketing and advertising.

"Thus, McDonald's advertising featuring toys to bait children violates California law because it is inherently deceptive and unfair.

"McDonald's advertising is also unfair to its competitors, who do not choose to attract very young children with the lure of a toy."

Parham claims that McDonald's "affirmatively and knowingly targets" children "in order to insidiously and deceptively access parents' wallets."

McDonald's argued that Parham failed to state a cause of action, and failed to prove that she lost money as a result of its marketing.

Attorneys argued the cases in February. In a two-page order Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer agreed with McDonald's, and dismissed with prejudice, without leave to amend.

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