A Portland woman has initiated legal action against Trader Joe's, asserting that she discovered a fingertip from a rubber glove floating in her organic orange juice. Julee O'Neil purchased a 52-ounce bottle of the retailer's orange juice from the Halsey Street location in Portland in June 2025.
Alleged Discovery and Immediate Health Effects
After consuming the entire bottle, O'Neil reported feeling a large piece of pulp in her mouth, which she later identified as the tip of a rubber glove. According to the lawsuit filed by her attorney, Anthony Furniss, she believed it might have also contained the end of a human finger within the glove tip or mixed in the pulp of the orange juice, potentially leading her to swallow or ingest it inadvertently.
Immediately following this incident, O'Neil experienced severe gagging, nausea, and a burning sensation in her mouth. She subsequently sought medical attention at an urgent care facility to address these symptoms.
Legal Demands and Broader Context
In her legal complaint, O'Neil is demanding a trial by jury and seeking $10,000 in damages along with coverage for her attorney fees. This lawsuit emerges against the backdrop of Trader Joe's recent settlement of a separate $7.4 million class-action suit related to privacy violations under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA).
Previous Litigation History
O'Neil has a history of filing similar lawsuits against other businesses. In 2020, she sued Starbucks after falling in a large puddle of water and injuring her knee, though that case was later dropped in 2021 due to lack of prosecution. Additionally, in 2024, she filed a claim against a massage therapist for improper treatment, requesting $710,000 in damages and $124,000 for medical bills and lost wages, which she dropped in May 2025.
Trader Joe's Response and Settlement Details
Trader Joe's has not yet commented on the orange juice lawsuit, but the company has vigorously denied allegations in the FACTA case, stating that not all stores printed receipts with exposed credit card digits and only a minority of transactions were affected. The $7.4 million settlement allows eligible customers who used credit or debit cards at Trader Joe's between March 5, 2019, and July 19, 2019, to claim an estimated payment of $102 by submitting a claim before the June 9 deadline.
The Daily Mail has reached out to both Trader Joe's and O'Neil's attorney for further comments on the ongoing legal matter.
