Jose Juan Rangel is suing a McDonald's in Los Angeles after his wife, Maria Vargas Luna, died following an attack at the restaurant's drive-thru in March 2024. The lawsuit alleges that the fast-food outlet failed to protect customers from a known vagrant, Charles Cornelius Green Jr, who assaulted the couple.
According to the complaint, Green Jr approached the couple's car window and attacked both Rangel and his partially blind wife. Rangel left the vehicle to confront the assailant, and Luna got out to help her husband. She was pushed to the ground, hitting her head on the asphalt and going into cardiac arrest.
Luna remained on life support for months after the incident before succumbing to severe head trauma and brain damage. The lawsuit claims the McDonald's branch in Boyle Heights was 'notorious in the community for ignoring the safety of its paying customers'.
Green Jr was initially charged with felony battery, but the charge was dropped after Luna's fall was deemed accidental. He faces a misdemeanour battery charge. Rangel is seeking unspecified damages for wrongful death, negligence, and emotional distress.
Dean Sanchez, the local McDonald's owner-operator, expressed condolences but stated the business does not believe the facts support the claims and will respond through legal channels. Luna's step-daughter, Veronica Rangel, said her father is devastated and feels guilty, as the couple had been married for 30 years.
