Just because you order boneless chicken wings at a restaurant doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect to find bones. That’s what the Ohio Supreme Court said in a 4-3 ruling issued Thursday. The court ruled that bones are a natural part of chicken, so a consumer should be on guard for them — even in boneless wings. The ruling came after Michael Berkheimer ordered boneless wings with Parmesan garlic sauce at the BBQ restaurant Wings on Brookwood in April 2016. On the third piece, he felt something go down the wrong pipe. He unsuccessfully tried clearing his throat and later that night began running a fever. The next day, a doctor removed the chicken bone, but Berkheimer ended up with an infection and endured two surgeries. He sued the restaurant, but the Butler County Common Pleas Court trial judge decided that consumers should be on guard for the possibility of bones in boneless chicken. The 12th District Court of Appeals agreed, and the case headed to the Ohio Supreme Court. Berkheimer argued that boneless means boneless, but the court disagreed.
