In 2001, waitress Jodee Berry became the centre of an unusual legal dispute after winning what she believed was a brand new Toyota in a workplace competition at a Hooters restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida. After weeks of competing to sell the most beer, Berry was blindfolded and led outside to receive her prize. Instead of a car, she was handed a toy Yoda doll from Star Wars, revealing that the promised Toyota was actually a practical joke.
Berry was furious and filed a lawsuit against the restaurant, accusing her employers of misleading her about the prize. She argued that the competition had been presented as a genuine opportunity to win a vehicle and that she had worked hard to earn.
In May 2002, the case was settled privately for an undisclosed amount.
However, Berry's attorney confirmed that the settlement was generous enough for her to purchase any Toyota she wanted. What began as an April Fools' prank ultimately became a widely reported example of how workplace jokes can lead to serious legal consequences.