Holding major companies accountable for their negligence is extremely important for the safety of everyone. The story of a money-seeking customer suing a big company for big bucks. Other major vendors of coffee, including Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Wendy's, and Burger Kinghave been subjected to similar lawsuits over third-degree burns. Camera! It’s always encouraged to know the facts before buying into misrepresented and sensationalized stories. McDonald’s Coffee Case – Myth v. Facts. McD App download and registration required. “The company knew its coffee was causing serious burns,” notes the museum, “but it decided that, with billions of cups served annually, this number of burns was not significant.” Liebeck was concerned about the others who had burned, and especially that the 700 other victims included children. What had actually happened was far different than what news outlets and late night TV hosts were saying. In the weeks and months to follow this encounter, great controversy would swirl around this woman and her latte. 01/07/2017 09:04 am ET Updated Jan 07, 2018. The McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit blames the incident on an employee’s negligence for failing to put the lid on the coffee cup properly. In September 1997, a seventy-three year old woman suffered first and second degree burns when a cup of McDonald's coffee spilled on her lap. She bought the coffee, she spilled it on herself and now, look, she’s a … The McDonald's coffee case began when a 79-year-old woman went with her son to a McDonald's drive-thru and ordered a cup of hot coffee. But there’s more to the story. Consumer advocates suggest that painting McDonald’s as the victim was a way for business interests and certain lawmakers to create a narrative about frivolous lawsuits in an effort to advance a tort reform agenda that would hamper consumer rights and strengthen a lack of corporate accountability. That lawsuit brought change though - albeit not to United Airlines. The McDonald’s Coffee Lawsuit Facts Everyone knows what you’re talking about when you mention “ the McDonald’s lawsuit. Alvaro Robles filed the lawsuit on Tuesday over the incident that occurred on Sept. 7, 2018, at 2220 Route 59 McDonald's. McDonald’s countered with an offer of $800. Everyone serves hot coffee! Her complaint sounded frivolous. Most of us remember the case, which became a cornerstone for tort reform efforts and the butt of jokes on late night television. Part of … McDonald’s appealed and eventually the case settled for an undisclosed amount. The “McDonald’s Coffee Case" is the most cited example of how out of control things supposedly are. But did any of us really know the details of the story? The McDonald's coffee case is a good example of how products liability law protects consumers. Home Blog Negligence Claims McDonald’s Coffee Case – Know the Facts. Places Where Your Visit Could Double the Population, Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winners Will Take Your Breath Away, Celebrate NASA's Birthday With These Incredible Images, There's a Great Story Behind This Cute Face, Collaborative Conservation: The Story Behind the Nation’s Newest Wildlife Refuge, What Went Wrong: The Story Behind the Atlantic Yards Prefab Tower, 'Up in Arms': Book Reveals More of the Story Behind the Bundys' Takeover of National Lands, The Story Behind Iceland's Volcanic Elephant, The Story Behind Spider Christmas Ornaments, 5 Work Policies U.S. Companies Should Emulate. Jurors heard testimony for a week and deliberated for hours. McDonald's still hasn't learned its lesson. In August 1994, a jury awarded a 79-year-old woman more than $2 million for burn injuries she sustained from the dangerous temperatures of McDonald's coffee. Television shows, pundits, and politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously. Since the was was filed, people have pursued hot coffee claims against not just McDonald’s but Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, Continental Airlines, and … Among histories of exploding Ford Pintos and Joe Camel, the facts behind Liebeck’s case come to light. Yet, what actually happened? McDonald's Scalding Coffee Case Nearly ten years later, critics of civil justice and juries continue to mock Stella Liebeck and the McDonald's coffee case, calling it 'frivolous' and 'laughable'. A month after the trial, the judge reduced the jury’s punitive damages award to $640,000. In the weeks and months to follow this encounter, great controversy would swirl around this woman and her latte. The infamous lawsuit is about an elderly woman who won $2.86million after spilling a cup of scalding hot McDonald’s coffee on herself. The rest is history. How did they know? But there’s more to the story. With the opening of Ralph Nader’s new American Museum of Tort Law in Winsted, Connecticut, the truth behind some of the more enduring cases of corporate shenanigans are explored. Similar lawsuits against McDonald's in the United Kingdom failed. Liebeck's attorney, Reed Morgan, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America defend the lawsuit by claiming that McDonald's reduce… That woman was Stella Liebeck, and her lawsuit turned into a punch line for many news outlets , late-night comedi ans, and pop stars as the truth was spun and the woman was made out to be greedy. But the facts told another story. Melissa Breyer is Treehugger’s editorial director. Television shows, pundits, and politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously. McDonald’s only offered $800, leading her to file a lawsuit in 1994. The McDonald's Hot Coffee Case Didn't Change Much. A documentary was even produced depicting the incident (called Hot Coffee). In August 1994, a jury awarded a 79-year-old woman more than $2 million for burn injuries she sustained from the dangerous temperatures of McDonald's coffee. McCafé Rewards earned on or after 12/28/2020 are valid for 60 days at participating U.S. McDonald's. I have several Million dollar awards and in every one, I proved my case to the insurance company or jurors. Again, McDonald’s refused and the case went to trial. According to Liebeck’s attorney, S. Reed Morgan, McDonald’s was serving their coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit! JOHN LLEWELLYN (ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY): The public perception of it is, Stella Liebeck won a lottery. A mediator later recommended that the parties settle for $225,000. No one is in favor of frivolous cases and outlandish results but it is important to understand some key facts that were NOT reported in the stories about the case. McDonald’s finally admitted that its coffee was not “fit for consumption” because of the severe risks. The skin is burned all the way down to the muscle/fatty tissue layer. The McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit was started. She sued McDonald’s and a jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the burns she suffered. According to the lawsuit, the coffee served to the 79-year-old Liebeck was as hot as 180 to 190 degrees—for reference, the optimal drinking temperature for hot beverages is around 140-150 degrees. You may remember this case as the woman who spilled McDonald’s coffee, sued, and got millions of dollars out of it. Stella Liebeck, the 79-year-old woman who was severely burned by McDonald’s coffee that she spilled in her lap in 1992, was unfairly held up as an example of frivolous litigation in the public eye. In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck bought a cup of takeout coffee at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Albuquerque and spilled it on her lap. Guess the media forgot to mention that. The facts surrounding the McDonald’s Coffee case often are grossly distorted by the media and special interest groups that are determined to deny the U.S. Constitution’s 7th amendment right to trial by jury, paint our courts in a negative light, and perpetuate the myth of frivolous lawsuits. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims. Well, it turns out that between the years of 1982-1992, McDonald’s coffee had burned more than 700 people from adults to infants, according to claims that had been filed. People to this day use it as an example of people suing over stupid, pointless things, but … The jury awarded her $2.9 million dollars. The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald’s callous conduct. Famous 'Cursed' Movies, Flint Water Whistleblower Wins the Goldman Environmental Prize, 12 U.S. A normal woman in a small town drives up to a McDonalds and orders a cup of coffee. With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. But the facts of the case tell a very different story. The McDonald's Hot Coffee case is commonly considered as the poster child for stupid personal injury lawsuits but, in this age of Fake News, if you knew the True Facts of the Hot Coffee Case, you might change your mind. However, that is the story mass media wanted you to hear. There have been some crazy verdicts, but I defer to those juries. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit created a lot of hype, especially by John Stossel at ABC News. Was hospitalized for a total of eight days, had whirlpool treatment for debridement of her wounds, skin grafting, scarring, and was disabled for more than two years! “We knew, before the lawsuit was filed, that the temperature of the water was 190 F or so, and the franchise documents required that of the franchisee,” said Kenneth Wagner, a lawyer who represented Liebeck. In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck ordered coffee at a McDonald’s drive-through in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They also awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages, which the trial judge reduced to $480,000, even though he called McDonald’s behavior had been “willful, wanton, and reckless.” The final settlement was even less. The Hot Coffee Case By Allison Torres Burtka Stella Liebeck, the 79-year-old woman who was severely burned by McDonald’s coffee that she spilled in her lap in 1992, was unfairly held up as an example of frivolous litigation in the public eye. In 1992 McDonald’s faced a lawsuit because there was a mishap with the temperature of their coffee. They saw it and weighed the evidence. “Our position was that the product was unreasonably dangerous, and the temperature should have been lower,” Wagner said. A month after the trial, the judge reduced the jury’s punitive damages award to $640,000. McDonald’s finally admitted that its coffee was not “fit for consumption” because of the severe risks. But the facts of the case tell a very different story. This fake news stories may invoke memories of another “frivolous” lawsuit against McDonald’s from the 1990s when the company was sued for … Here are the facts of this widely misreported and misunderstood case: Stella Liebeck, 79 years old, was sitting in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car having purchased a cup of McDonald’s coffee. That’s quicker than the amount of time it took you to read this sentence. McDonald’s coffee was not only hot, it was scalding – capable of almost instantaneous destruction of skin, flesh, and muscle. This case received a great deal of publicity and became a prime example for frivolous lawsuits which garnered large … Liebeck sought to settle her claim for only $20,000, but McDonald’s still refused. Call 361-792-2358 to schedule your free consultation today! We have all heard it: a woman spills McDonald's coffee, sues and gets $3 million. In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck ordered coffee at a McDonald’s drive-through in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The long-running debate over frivolous lawsuits took shape years ago after McDonald’s coffee spilled into a woman’s lap and she was awarded millions in damages. Start down the road to recovery by contacting us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. At home, most coffee makers brew a drink that measures between 135 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Serving the U.S. and Texas with offices in South Texas including, © 2020 Herrman & Herrman - All rights reserved, Spring Break in McAllen and Rio Grande Valley: Tourism Information You Need ». In Bogle v. McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd.Field J rejected the claim that McDonald's could have avoided injury by serving coffee at a lower temperature. The lawsuit names Kory Management, Kory Family McDonald’s… The cup tipped over and as a result spilled scolding (keyword: scolding) hot coffee onto herself. It became known as the McDonald’s coffee lawsuit—a story of America’s court system gone wild, an illustration of the excesses of a litigious culture where no … Joe: Doing good. In 1992, Stella Liebeck, who was 79 years old at the time, spilled an entire cup of McDonald’s coffee in her lap and received third-degree burns on 16 percent of her body. McCafé Rewards earned on or before 12/27/2020 are valid through 2/25/2021 at participating U.S. McDonald's. The McDonalds’ Coffee Case. The jury’s $2.7 million award has long been a poster child for tort reform (the judge actually reduced her award to $480,000). By Allison Torres Burtka. She offered to settle for $20,000, however, McDonald’s refused to settle and offered a mere $800. If spilled, coffee at this temperature will cause third-degree burns within two to seven seconds. Liebeck's attorneys argued that, at 180–190 °F, McDonald's coffee was defective, claiming it was too hot and more likely to cause serious injury than coffee served at any other establishment. You may be familiar with — and even outraged by — the famous lawsuit against McDonald’s by Stella Liebeck who was burned by hot coffee. Myth: McDonald’s got punished for serving hot coffee. In 1992 McDonald’s faced a lawsuit because there was a mishap with the temperature of their coffee. Although third-degree burns are often painless, the pain comes from the first and second-degree burns that surround the third-degree burns. The facts surrounding the McDonald’s Coffee case often are grossly distorted by the media and special interest groups that are determined to deny the U.S. Constitution’s 7th amendment right to trial by jury, paint our courts in a negative light, and perpetuate the myth of frivolous lawsuits. A woman believed it was too hot, sued, and won the trial. Typical reaction: Isn’t coffee supposed to be hot? Now, plotting Mrs. Liebeck's case, Mr. Morgan planned to introduce photographs of his previous client's injuries and those of a California woman who suffered second- and third-degree burns after a McDonald's employee spilled hot coffee into her vehicle in 1990, a case that was settled out of court for $230,000. The rest is history. The sad part about all this is that poor Liebeck wasn’t even trying to sue for millions of dollars but instead wanted only to be compensated for her medical bills. News stations took her to task, late-night comedians had a field day. This particular product liability issue affected the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), third Degree burns destroy both the epidermis and the dermis to where the skin cannot regenerate. She is a sustainability expert and author whose work has been published by the New York Times and National Geographic, among others. The infamous lawsuit is about an elderly woman who won $2.86million after spilling a cup of scalding hot McDonald ’s coffee on herself. After hearing the evidence, the jury concluded that McDonald’s handling of its coffee … In 1992, 79-year old Stella Liebeck became the poster child for frivolous litigation after filing a lawsuit against McDonald’s for serving coffee that was too hot. Other people have reported similar injuries after spilling McDonald's coffee. What Was The Jury Thinking? If you have been injured due to the negligence of another, contact Herrman & Herrman to speak with an experienced attorney. But the facts told another story. However, it was McDonald's own testimony and actions that led a jury to rule against it. Turchin does not name the McDonald’s employee. This is why now you can go to a museum in Winsted, Connecticut, and look at exhibits starring Erin Brockovich and Big Tobacco ... and a senior citizen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was concerned about kids getting burned by hot coffee. This fake news stories may invoke memories of another “frivolous” lawsuit against McDonald’s from the 1990s when the company was sued for serving coffee that was too hot. Liebeck was awarded $200,000 in compensation for her pain and medical costs, a figure that was reduced to $160,000 because the jury found her 20 percent responsible. Her case became the poster child of the widely touted corporate misnomer 'frivolous lawsuits' in America. McDonald's Hot Coffee Lawsuit In 1992, news media across the United States exploded over a now-infamous personal injury case in which a woman (Stella Liebeck) was awarded just short of $3 million in damages when she spilled a cup of scalding hot coffee in her lap. 14 Famous People Who Mysteriously Disappeared, Lights! Myth: McDonald’s got punished for serving hot coffee. McDonald’s Coffee Case – Myth v. Facts. The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald’s callous conduct. Her case became the poster child of the widely touted corporate misnomer 'frivolous lawsuits' in America. That woman was Stella Liebeck, and her lawsuit turned into a punch line for many news outlets, late-night comedians, and pop stars as the truth was spun and the woman was made out to be greedy. Fact: McDonald’s didn’t just serve their coffee hot– their operations manual required that is be served between 180 and 190 degrees; 30-40 degrees hotter than other coffee-serving restaurants in the area. McDonald's had refused several prior opportunities to settle for less than what the jury ultimately awarded. According to the court documents, a supervisor at the McDonald’s restaurant addressed and … Actually, Mrs. Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, had gone to a McDonald’s with her grandson, who was driving. McDonald’s When four-year-old Lynn Abdelal gave a cup of coffee to her grandmother, Mona, the lid fell off, resulting in third-degree burns all over Mona's body. Kept its coffee at 180 degrees Fahrenheit refused and the case of Liebeck v. McDonald ’ mcdonald's coffee lawsuit. Valid for 60 days at participating U.S. McDonald 's had refused several prior opportunities to for! To read this sentence coffee ) tort reform efforts and the temperature should been! 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