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Chicken is one of the few things that can be very dangerous if under-cooked, and I always send mine back for further cooking whenever necessary (even though it should not be necessary to begin with). However, it's not the fault of the wait-staff, and proper decorum should always be used in such circumstances. Kids need to be taught from an early age how to behave, especially in a potentially heated situation. The parents could have handled that one better.

We live in such a litigious society and it never ceases to amaze me what people think they should sue over. It is almost like as people, we are not permitted to be anything less than perfect, doing perfect work. Pretty sad, if you ask me.

I also find, many young adults and children have been raised with a sense of entitlement and zero sense of responsibility. That is also so very sad. Manners? What are those?

My first thought would be to send it back - not sue. My second thought would be to ask a staff member if the meat looked strange. Most will be honest and either apologize and remove the offending plate or explain why the meat appears as it does.

That scenario above sounds more like a family with a skewed sense of right and wrong vs. someone with a real problem. If the "smokehouse" plate was smoked, the meat might appear pink. The pink color might have been offputting to a kid who doesn't know from smoked meat but recognizes the color as a signal to "stop eating."

The parent and adults at the table set a lousy example.

The parent could have

a) called the wait person over and asked about the meat. Hopefully the wait person would know the effects of smoke on meat.
b) called the manager over and asked about the meat. Same for the manager.
c) examined the kid's plate and if it checked out, explained to the kid about smoked meat appearing pink.
d) asked for a swap out of the chix if its color was that offputting to the kid.

I really can't stand being in situations like that, so many kids these days learn the most repulsive behaviors from their parents. I mean what kind of parents let their children chant "sue, sue, sue?" Disgusting.

I always leave large tips when that happens because I feel so bad for the staff. I agree with the other posters about what options would've been proper.

I have been served undercooked chicken twice in my life, I haven't returned to those establishments. I didn't make a big deal, I just didn't eat it. I don't think being a jerk in life is necessary, and clearly that child's behavior was learned from his "ray of sunshine" of a mom!

If I were the restaurant manager, or better yet the owner:

(after examining the chicken and determining it was property prepared)

Excuse me Ma'am. Our normal practice is to replace the offending dish with another of your choice, and either not charging that meal, or offering your party a free bottle of wine or complimentary desserts.

However, in this case you were rude to my staff and caused a ruckus in our establishment, disturbing the other diners, so I'm going to have to ask you all to leave the premisis.

There will be no charge, and I'll even be happy to bag your "evidence" for you.

If I were diner at a nearby table:

Excuse me Ma'am. I'm Steve Baker, and I've been a practicing attorney for twenty-five years, and I've represented hundreds of clients in cases involving deaths and permanent disabilities caused by negligence or unsafe products and behaviors.

I understand that plaintiff's attorneys have a less than sterling reputation with the public, and I can tell or take a good lawyer joke, but I'm offended by your boorish behavior and trivializing the issue of personal injury litigation.

I will be glad to pick up your tab here, and give you $200 cash to buy dinner at another establishment of your choice, if you agree to leave immediately so my family and I can enjoy our meal in peace.

{Disclaimer: Steve is not an attorney, personal in jury or otherwise}

@cspice: I've always considered myself a stand-up kind of guy though?

And I actually have reacted in like manner in similar circumstances.

I believe the customer is always right .... until they're abusive to the staff.

@srhcb - When I was in college, I worked as a waitress. One night, a woman who most likely "under the influence", threw her naked porterhouse bone at me when I asked if she was finished with her meal. Does that count as abusive???? (:-)

There are con artists and there are con artists who teach their children to be con artists. Despicable.

@crazyspice......did they throw her out on her a**? if not, did you? :~D

@srhcb.......ditto what SayWhat said, seconded and motion passed!

@crazyspice.......OMG. All wait staff, but especially those who have to deal with drunks have my deepest respect and my deepest sympathy. Not only do they (YOU) have to put up with being treated like a dog, but then they get stiffed on their tip. Management needs to step in, but you deserved a bonus for not "dropping" the plate with blunt force trauma on the top of her head.

I can't believe no one is commenting on the fact that a ten year old ordered a plate with ribs, chicken, and steak. Whoa! I don't know any 10-y-o's with that kind of appetite. Where do you live? Here in San Fran you'd be more likely to see a kid complaining his edamame isn't organic -j/k :0

@karenita.....if they were looking to take "free" food home, they'd order BIG.

I think this type of customer behaviour must be symptomatic of their getting their ideas about 'upper class manners' from cartoons whose irony they missed or some of the more poorly behaved celebrities.

I worked as a waitress for about half a day. Tips? Hah. This was a diner in a rural area. People would come in with seven surly demons disguised as children, wreak havoc with their table, keep the waitresses hopping ('Hey you! We're PAYING for this meal... fresh water, move-it, move-it!' No kidding.) nonstop, leave the table looking like a rubbish tip in which someone had been trying to find a lost bracelet, and leave... a religious tract. If that.
After a few hours, I cajoled the manager into letting me bus tables and do the dishes instead.

Occasionally someone would come in with quite a load on, and eventually fall off their stool (usually while drinking coffee, I noticed; they'd overbalance backwards). They would, naturally, threaten to sue. Happened several times.

@karenita - he was a big kid. I live in Southwestern Ohio. This wasn't an "upscale" restaurant, but it was what I would call "a nicer than A-bees place." Entrees range from 7.99 - 19.99. Family was what I would call, with all due respect to everyone's paycheck, LOWer middle CLASS.

@mongoose - didn't really ruin my meal. I just sit there and say "who let these people out without their keepers?" at times. Like I said, not a swanky place, but still - common courtesy. If there is something wrong with your meal, by all means - send it back! I used to cook, I am the first one to tell you to do it - especially with chicken. But don't teach your kids that the answer is to sue or to encourage them to chant in a restaurant!

I'm guessing this mother has never made a mistake on any job she's ever had (assuming the food was indeed undercooked). However, she did make a major parenting mistake by teaching her child that a temper tantrum is the appropriate way to handle a situation. She will certainly regret her actions as her children become older and not "cute" any more (not that the behavior was "cute" in the first place).