NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — The ex-wife of former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is suing the restaurant chain for damages, saying the company received three reports indicating his sexual interest in children but failed to take proper action and continued promoting him as their spokesman.
The lawsuit filed Monday in Hamilton County Superior Court on behalf of Katie McLaughlin says Subway sent a public relations employee to ask Fogle about the allegations in two of the reports. The lawsuit says Subway has admitted the complaint in the third report was “not properly escalated or acted upon.”
The lawsuit alleges Subway allowed Fogle to spend significant time in elementary schools promoting Subway after the allegations.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
A spokeswoman said Subway did not have an immediate response but would provide comment.
Subway headquarters are in Milford, Connecticut.
Here is McLaughlin’s full statement:
“When the FBI banged on my door on July 7th, 2015, I thought it was the worst day of my life. I had no idea that the nightmare was just beginning. Like the rest of America, I was shocked by what I learned in the weeks and months to follow.
First let me say, to the victims of my ex-husband, you are never far from my thoughts and prayers. I can only imagine what you have been going through. A mother’s most basic instinct is to protect her children and this is one of the most horrific of crimes. I know the healing process is lifelong.
Finding out that your husband and the father of your children is a child predator, and knowing that his job involved him visiting schools on a regular basis is devastating.
Finding out that Subway did not act upon at least one complaint while continuing to utilize Jared as their spokesperson and facilitate his visits to those hundreds of schools is beyond comprehension.
I filed this lawsuit because I have questions. Questions that someday my children will ask me and that I imagine the families of the 14 victims are asking. Questions to which I have no other way to get answers. Questions like what did Subway know and when did they know it? What investigations, if any, did they conduct? Did they ever notify the authorities?
I also filed this lawsuit because I am seeking damages from Subway. As the complaint alleges, there have been news reports that Subway received at least one complaint that Jared had sexual interest in children. Subway even took the step of marketing him as a family man and used my children’s and my likenesses in that campaign. I did not give them the consent to do this.
This is not a position I ever wanted to be in. Bringing this lawsuit was not an easy decision to make. I am by nature and practice a very private person. I have kept my children out of the public arena, despite their father’s career, arrest, and conviction.
I actually want to thank you all in the media for respecting my privacy and the privacy of my children over the past year. I recognize that filing a lawsuit is taking a public step. However, I chose to make this statement today, rather than risk media presence at my home and in my neighborhood. I would ask that you please continue to respect my privacy and the privacy of my children.”
