We are all so quick to blame the parents. Burger King should have had padding for the playground. Accidents do happen but a place of business that has a playground inside it should make sure they have taken precautions to avoid accidents like this one. It is unfortunate this happened to this family but it did. Both parties are at fault. We all should remember this child and his family have to live a lifetime with this injury which I feel does not have a price tag. Since, this accident happen, maybe now all fast food restaurants that have playgrounds may want to put nets and padding on the floor instead of concrete to avoid accidents like this one. Seriously, a playground on top of concrete!!!!

It looks like there is no netting on that playground, so right there its a hazard to play on..those things are un sanitary, the kids behave like animals, and it becomes a babysitter for parents.. I have kids they are grown nown but I never ever left them un attended because so many mothers (and you know who you who are) sit down with your coffee about 15 feet away not watching your kids talking it up and chatting with your friends..and then you kids get hurt or they are mis behaving!!If I saw it once I saw it 1000 times.. its unfortunate that this child was injured, its unfortunate when any child is hurt..bottom line... they shouldnt have these mini playgrounds at fast food places..they are filthy kids pee in them and they get too wild..just be glad you got to go out to eat !!

No amount of money can replace what has happened to the innocent little 8 year old boy. The franchise is to blame, as it could of been prevented if they would of spent a few thousand to pad the floor. Now they will have a 20 million dollar floor. Kids will be kids,a parent could turn thier head for a few seconds and something tragic as this could happen. Shame on those who blame the parents. Do they realize the cost to take care of the boy for possibly the rest of his life, never mind the impact on the family. Bottom line: Dont judge unless you have walked in thier shoes!!!!!!!!

Why was this child allowed to climb on the outside of this structure? Most of these things say that your child should not be on these play gyms without parental supervision. Whatever happened to parents with common sense who allow their childern to do whatever they want? This is a sad story but the parents share a lot of the responsability for what happened to this child. What a shame.

Accidents happen. I am sure that the lawyers painted BK as a neglectful business only interested in drawing in customers with no regard for their safety or health. I am sure the defense team painted the parents as neglectful and uncaring. Bottom line is that this was a tragic, unplanned accident. Could the negative impact of the fall have been lessened, sure. Most safety regulations are written in blood. Why $20m? Is that how much it took to either punish BK or was that the limit of their insurance? Accidents and mistakes happen, it is no reason to bleed a business dry.

Very sad and easily preventable - what would it have cost to put a little padding on the floor over the tile, or take some other corrective measure(s)?

I can understand both sides here. Poor parenting? Maybe so. Poor design or inspection of playground equipment? Maybe so. But the part that really gets me in the story is that it was three YEARS before BK did anything to prevent another tragedy like Jacob’s from happening again. As a parent when I found a potential danger to my son, ether before something happened or after the fact in some cases , it was my personal responsibility to for remove that danger. Not sure BK was on the ball here.

I have said for numerous years since they first started popping up in fast food restaurants, that they are accidents waiting to happen. How do these places afford the liability insurance, if they have it, that is???? I took my grandson to Chuck E Cheese & he was hurt by older & larger children who were running wild throughout the place. I spoke to the manager & she said it was hard to keep the children from running about. Evidently no one could watch them including parents! But, they did have workers going around doing various jobs for the store promotions who possibly could enforce a no running rule. I then contacted the corporate offices & they told me they would speak to someone at the store. Sure, I believe that!!!! I really think that when it comes to children, these places should be insured to the max & forced to have the necessary liability insurance if they want these so-called indoor playgrounds to entice the kids & parents.

The boy was eight years old. The parent's of an eight year old is not going to watch a child this age that closely on a children's play area. Accidents do happen with kids playing. I do not think that anyone is to blame except it would of been better for the restaurant to put a spongy floor down under this play area. I tend to think that this poor boy fell on concrete which is why he had such an awful ingury. I hope he will be okay! I hope that they either take this play area down or put a better floor down under neath this play area.

If the information in the article is correct, recommended safety corrections were not made to the playground equipment. BK and it's contractor both have responsibility for this. The parent also has some responsibility for not noticing the safety problem even though there is reasonable expectation that the area is presumed to be "safe". Common sense must prevail. All involved parties are responsible and should share in the cost. Unfortunately, he parents will have to live with their mistake and the company (BK) will have to pay for their mistake.

First..(nivhar65ive) needs to go back to 3rd grade and learn to spell..Don't respond if we the American people can't even understand your written words. I bet you did travel the big BK wonderworld!!!For the Father..well I would love to throw you off my balcony (25 feet)reel you up and hog tie you and then feed you a yummy Burger King hamburger. Playing is for your families household only!! Play with your kids,first maybe go outside play basketball..throw a baseball..give a loving hug and then maybe a cheeseburger. People take care of their dogs better than you and your wife did!!!Always have a lease on your dog when crossing the street. Look both ways when crossing..never feed them chicken bones they might choke! What were you both thinking? Enjoy your money because you made more than the big boys at AIG and Merrill Lynch..Gosh you are so American..Probably a Demo..Gosh, I can't wait to sue somebody..Who's out there..I am coming to get you!!

It is sad that people like this will fault a Burger King for their lack of parenting. The bottom line is that we are responsible to know what our children are doing and if they are using the play areas appropriately. It is unreasonable to think the Burger King should have to sit down and think about every irresposible parent and what they may let their unruly children do. As a mother with a child who has a TBI and will never be the same I can say that nobody will pay for her care but me and the price is simply my time. 20 million would not ease my pain it would only make me rich. It is sad that they have used this little boy and this incident to get rich! PLEASE PEOPLE LOVE YOUR CHILDREN DONT LET THEM HURT THEMSELVES SO THAT YOU CAN GET RICH! CLEARLY THEY SAW HIM CLIMBING THE OUTSIDE! THERE WERE NOT CLIMBING NETS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE CLIMBING THERE! STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR GODS SAKE!

My prayers go out to this family. This was a awful thing to have happen to a very young child, however, Dad must take some of the responsibility of what happend on that terrible day. If his child was climbing on something not meant to be climed on and Dad did not tell him to get down, he is partically responsible. I hope the money will come as some comfort to the family and help with Kevins long term care. Perhaps if the playground had a safer ground, Kevin would not have been severly injured. Also, when the playgound is occupied by children, BK's staff should stay in there and supervise, this way there would be two eye witnesses instead of one parent. As for Keith and Dude seek help immediately. I will pray that nothing like this ever hits someone you love...

I am a daycare owner. I take kids to these places to play. When I take kids to these places I watch them. If I saw them climbing inappropriately, It is my job to say something. It is obviously not a place to play. The money could of been better spent if they took some of the money to improve the playground. I feel like the parents are looking for someone to blame. I feel both are to harbor responsibility.

I agree with the parents on this matter. Burger King should look at their play equipment and see every posible way a child might get injured. They should take measures to correct any areas that could possibly injure a child. The potective mats should go out way beyound the immediate playing area. This isn't rocket science. It is easy to see if a child were to climb those outside poles, that they might fall and hit their head on the hard floor surface. Yes, I feel Burger King is definantely at fault here. God Bless the parents. I hope their little boy will recover and live a full life.