Anne Paskett claims some well-known restaurants duped her by filling her plate with much more fat than advertised.

For three years, she's been on a strict calorie-counting diet, sometimes with frustrating results.

"I would go in and weigh in and the scale, and the lady behind the counter would say 'you're up 2 1/2 pounds,'" she said. "And I would say, 'but how could I be? I've been eating according to my plan.'"

Paskett, who is on Weight Watchers, believes her plan was derailed by well-known restaurants falsely advertising low-fat meals.

Seattle attorney David Breskin is representing her in a class action lawsuit that alleges misrepresentation and consumer deception.

"It's difficult to put prices on that, but I think what we're looking for is that it's not going to happen in the future," he said.

A national media investigation tested the nutritional contents of diet menu items at places like Chili's and Macaroni Grill. In some cases, the fat and calorie content was several times higher than the restaurants claimed.

Most of the Chili's locations in Western Washington have closed.

Paskett still eats out, and doesn't want the restaurants gone. She just wants to believe in the menus again.

"I'm very careful, I don't necessarily pick what's on the lighter fare menu, I just try to make the best choice that I can," she said.

The parent company of Chili's and Macaroni Grill -- Brinker International, based in Dallas -- hasn't commented on the litigation.
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_060708WAB_chilis_lawsuit_KS.cb614c9.html