Federal Judge Rules Buffalo Wild Wings Can Retain ‘Boneless Wings’ Name

Buffalo Wild Wings has received a legal victory, as a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the restaurant chain can continue to label its menu item as “boneless wings.” This decision comes after a lawsuit claimed that the term constituted false advertising.

U.S. District Judge John Tharp, based in Illinois, issued a 10-page ruling allowing Buffalo Wild Wings to maintain the name “boneless wings.” The lawsuit was initiated by a Chicago man who argued that the boneless wings were overpriced and essentially just chicken nuggets.

Aimen Halim, the plaintiff, contended that Buffalo Wild Wings should refer to the product as “chicken poppers” instead. However, Judge Tharp dismissed this argument, stating it lacked substantial evidence. He noted, “Halim did not ‘drum’ up enough factual allegations to state a claim.” While Halim had standing to bring the claim due to a plausible economic injury, Tharp concluded that reasonable consumers are not misled by the term “boneless wings.”

DURING SUPER BOWL LIX, FANS WILL EAT A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF CHICKEN WINGS

A federal judge ruled that Buffalo Wild Wings can continue using the term “boneless wings” after dismissing a lawsuit that claimed the name was misleading. (Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Halim’s lawsuit followed a visit to Buffalo Wild Wings in January 2023, where he claimed he felt misled by the restaurant’s marketing. He argued that the boneless wings were merely “slices of chicken breast meat deep-fried like wings,” and that he would have either paid less or not purchased them at all had he known their true nature.

He expressed regret over his purchase after discovering how the product was made, claiming it resulted in “a financial injury as a result of defendants’ false and deceptive conduct.”

In his ruling, Judge Tharp acknowledged that while boneless wings are “essentially chicken nuggets,” the concept is not new, as Buffalo Wild Wings has been serving them since 2003. He stated, “Boneless wings are not a niche product for which a consumer would need to do extensive research to figure out the truth.” Instead, he emphasized that the term has been widely accepted for over two decades.

RED LOBSTER CONSIDERING MORE RESTAURANT CLOSURES, CEO SAYS

A federal judge ruled that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings are not deceptive, dismissing a lawsuit over the menu item’s name. (iStock / iStock)

Halim accused Buffalo Wild Wings of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, breach of express warranty, common law fraud, and unjust enrichment. In his ruling, Tharp referenced a 2024 Ohio Supreme Court decision, stating that a diner reading “boneless wings” on a menu would not believe the restaurant was guaranteeing the absence of bones, just as one eating “chicken fingers” would not think they were served actual fingers.

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A judge rejected claims that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings labeling deceives customers. (Getty / Getty Images)

Judge Tharp further noted that a “reasonable consumer” would not assume that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings were “truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing.” The court has allowed Halim to submit an amended complaint by March 20, although Tharp expressed skepticism about whether additional facts could demonstrate that Buffalo Wild Wings is engaging in deceptive practices.

FOX Business’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Buffalo Wild Wings has received a legal victory, as a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the restaurant chain can continue to label its menu item as “boneless wings.” This decision comes after a lawsuit claimed that the term constituted false advertising.

U.S. District Judge John Tharp, based in Illinois, issued a 10-page ruling allowing Buffalo Wild Wings to maintain the name “boneless wings.” The lawsuit was initiated by a Chicago man who argued that the boneless wings were overpriced and essentially just chicken nuggets.

Aimen Halim, the plaintiff, contended that Buffalo Wild Wings should refer to the product as “chicken poppers” instead. However, Judge Tharp dismissed this argument, stating it lacked substantial evidence. He noted, “Halim did not ‘drum’ up enough factual allegations to state a claim.” While Halim had standing to bring the claim due to a plausible economic injury, Tharp concluded that reasonable consumers are not misled by the term “boneless wings.”

DURING SUPER BOWL LIX, FANS WILL EAT A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF CHICKEN WINGS

A federal judge ruled that Buffalo Wild Wings can continue using the term “boneless wings” after dismissing a lawsuit that claimed the name was misleading. (Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Halim’s lawsuit followed a visit to Buffalo Wild Wings in January 2023, where he claimed he felt misled by the restaurant’s marketing. He argued that the boneless wings were merely “slices of chicken breast meat deep-fried like wings,” and that he would have either paid less or not purchased them at all had he known their true nature.

He expressed regret over his purchase after discovering how the product was made, claiming it resulted in “a financial injury as a result of defendants’ false and deceptive conduct.”

In his ruling, Judge Tharp acknowledged that while boneless wings are “essentially chicken nuggets,” the concept is not new, as Buffalo Wild Wings has been serving them since 2003. He stated, “Boneless wings are not a niche product for which a consumer would need to do extensive research to figure out the truth.” Instead, he emphasized that the term has been widely accepted for over two decades.

RED LOBSTER CONSIDERING MORE RESTAURANT CLOSURES, CEO SAYS

A federal judge ruled that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings are not deceptive, dismissing a lawsuit over the menu item’s name. (iStock / iStock)

Halim accused Buffalo Wild Wings of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, breach of express warranty, common law fraud, and unjust enrichment. In his ruling, Tharp referenced a 2024 Ohio Supreme Court decision, stating that a diner reading “boneless wings” on a menu would not believe the restaurant was guaranteeing the absence of bones, just as one eating “chicken fingers” would not think they were served actual fingers.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

A judge rejected claims that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings labeling deceives customers. (Getty / Getty Images)

Judge Tharp further noted that a “reasonable consumer” would not assume that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings were “truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing.” The court has allowed Halim to submit an amended complaint by March 20, although Tharp expressed skepticism about whether additional facts could demonstrate that Buffalo Wild Wings is engaging in deceptive practices.

FOX Business’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.