Americana: A Crackerjack Kid

The clerk in the Noblesville, Ind., small claims court was rather startled when Wendy Potasnik, 9, stood on tiptoe before his desk to file suit against Borden, Inc., the huge food and chemical-products company based in Columbus, Ohio. It seems that Wendy got to the bottom of a box of Cracker Jack one day and found no free toy, as advertised. Recalls her mother: "She was so sad-faced." Wendy wrote to Borden to complain, but received no response. So she and her father composed a complaint asking the court for a replacement box of Cracker Jack and $19 to cover court costs. Says Wendy in her suit: "I feel since I bought their product because of their claim, they broke a contract with me." Borden officials pleaded for a little understanding, pointing out that since 1912 they have packed some 16 billion little prizes in those boxes; they sent Wendy a letter of apology and a coupon good for one free box of Cracker Jack. But Wendy was unmoved. Says she: "I hope next time they'll have toys in the Cracker Jack." Says her father: "It was just meant to be a nice, educational experience for her." Not to mention for Borden.