As one of the most famous (or infamous) law suits, the scalding coffee lawsuit has become a folk tale in itself. An example of how to best manage the legal system to make it work in your favor. An easy way to hold power when, in reality, the situation is out of kilter with anything you would traditionally expect. Personal injury lawsuits bring about all manner of interesting stories, and this one was easily one of the most recognized and known lawsuits of the last thirty years or so.
It took place in 1992, when 79-year-old Stella Liebeck got a cup of coffee from McDonalds in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Having got the coffee to go, she was in the passenger seat of a parked car when she placed the cup of coffee between her legs to add in some milk and some sugar. However, the coffee tipped over onto her legs and left her with severe burns.
Third-degree burns were proven, and she needed skin grafts carried out on her inner thighs and other parts of the body. Having suffered the injuries, she hired a personal injury attorney and sued the fast food chain for her damages. In the end, she was awarded almost $3m in damages from the company.
Not the first time
However, while that might sound extreme for a one-off scenario, Liebeck was not the first person to be hurt in a similar fashion. Indeed, more than 700 reports previously existed of McDonalds-related coffee injuries: including some previous paid-out settlements to others.
Admitting to the fact that their coffee was too hot to be served, served at around 180-190 degrees Fahrenheit, they also admitted that they done nothing to change the risk posed by the coffee itself. Indeed, a Quality Assurance manager even attested that it was not safe for consumption via the mouth when first poured as it was simply too warm.
Offering to settle at $20,000 to cover medical expenses and lost income, Liebeck was shocked when McDonalds would, at most, offer her $800. McDonalds’ unwillingness to correct their coffee policy meant too many people were injured and that played a part in the eventual outcome, which was described by one juror as a “callous disregard for the safety of the people.”
So, when you see this claim that McDonalds got torn to shreds in court for “just one” spilt cup of coffee, think again. It usually would take a pretty significant amount of evidence to succeed with the claim made; that has now been proven to be the case. So, the next time you hear someone use this case as an example of a legal system gone mad, correct them and ensure they know this wasn’t just a once off!
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