Instead of the $10,000 she was reportedly seeking for her injury, Edwards is now facing 21 felony counts of insurance fraud and worker's compensation fraud. Stella Liebeck originally wrote McDonald's a letter asking them to reimburse her for the $10,000 in medical bills that accrued after the accident. Andy Simmons is a features editor at Reader's Digest. She was in a parked car when the coffee spilled. And McDonalds began changing how it heats up its coffee. According to The New York Times, the jurors arrived at this figure from Morgan's suggestion to penalize McDonald's for two days of coffee revenues, about $1.35 million per day. 4.24M subscribers 39K 5M views 9 years ago In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled scalding McDonald's coffee in her lap and later sued the company, attracting a flood of negative attention. McDonald's responded with a letter offering $800. Her recovery lasted two years. Adam Ruins Everything explains that the case wasnt about greed, but about a working-class woman forcing a big company to make its product safer. And family oriented 3 reputation consumers 1stella. Her grandson parked the car to allow Mrs. Liebeck to add cream and sugar to her coffee. So I put the cup between my knees to steady it [as I tried] to get the top off., And after that, says Tiano, she started screaming.. The general facts of the case. [18] During the case, Liebeck's attorneys discovered that McDonald's required franchisees to hold coffee at 180190F (8288C). Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Facebook and Twitter (@FindLawConsumer). 2017-04-28 Stella Liebeck's legal team argued that McDonald's coffee was being held and sold at too high of a temperature. The world's most infamous cup of coffee spilled on February 27, 1992 in Albuquerque, NM. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why Did McDonald's Serve Coffee So Hot? For similar uses, see, Michael McCann, William Haltom, and Anne Bloom, "Law & Society Symposium: Java Jive: Genealogy of a Juridical Icon", 56 U. Miami L. Rev. They extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage. . Photo: Bill Litant Previous image Next image. Retro Report. (We've spared you the gruesome photos here, but a simple Google Images search for "Stella Liebeck burns" will give you photographic evidence of the graphic, horrifying injuries Ms. Liebeck sustained.) 2012-08-27 Do you remember late last year when Barbara Laurie sued Tim Hortons in Alberta because she claimed her Iced Coffee was toxic? The defense countered that the number of complaints was statistically insignificant, given the billions of cups of McDonalds coffee sold annually. Case Study: The True Story Behind the McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants&oldid=1141792275, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 20:48. This theory holds that a person or company is responsible for any injuries that are caused by their negligence. url = '/react.php?id='+id+'&value='+value; Lawyers for Stella Liebeck, who suffered third-degree burns in the 1992 incident, contended that McDonald's coffee was too hot. The Chicago mayors race shows Democrats still have a crime problem, The campaign to make insulin less expensive just scored a major victory, OpenAI wants to build systems smarter than us. First-degree burns are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin. Her pelvis was left permanently disfigured. 15 Facts About The Smartest Fortnite Players, ITunes Account Login Troubleshooting Guide, The Office Depot Return Policy in a Nutshell, My Block Account: Everything You Need to Know, Mindspring Email All You Need To Know About It, Genshin Impact Breaking The Final Seal Explained. This site is protected by The last several decades, large corporations afraid of being sued for making unsafe products created front groups like Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse to turn public opinion against lawsuits, University of Washington professor Michael McCann told Conover. The attorneys presented evidence that coffee they had tested all over the city was served at a temperature at least 20F (11C) lower than McDonald's coffee. Since the was was filed, people have pursued hot coffee claims against not just McDonalds but Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Continental Airlines, and other companies. McDonalds responded with an offer of $800. During man-in-the-street interviews for the documentary Hot Coffee, one woman said of Liebeck, People are greedy and want money. Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. In 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, ordered coffee from a McDonald’s drive-thru. Stella was awarded $640,000. In 2002, Caesar Barber filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and KFC, claiming that their greasy and salty food had made him obese and unhealthy. Plus, it . , 2013-03-12 So this apparently happened (heard it through phone) and while it sounds dubious at best, he claims it really happened, and asked what he should do, so I'm asking for some suggestions now. She suffered 3rd degree burns to 16%. A new video produced by Retro Reports shows the graphic photos of the third-degree burns that then-79-year-old Liebeck received on her groin, saying that after viewing the physical damage. Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. Her injuries were anything but frivolous. Stella Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico. [29], In McMahon v. Bunn Matic Corporation (1998), Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote a unanimous opinion affirming dismissal of a similar lawsuit against coffeemaker manufacturer Bunn-O-Matic, finding that 179F (82C) hot coffee was not "unreasonably dangerous". When you have a more complete summary of the facts, you might. Ct. October 5, 1993), Punitive Damages in Louisiana: A Year of Controversy, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 20:48, U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, "Remember the Hot Coffee Lawsuit? {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type": "Question", "name": "What Kind Of Burns Did Stella Liebeck Have? [11][12], Liebeck was taken to a hospital, where it was determined that she had suffered third-degree burns on six percent of her skin and lesser burns over sixteen percent. McDonalds reps suggested that the blame lay with Liebeck for holding the cup between her legs. McDonald's current policy is to serve coffee at 176194F (8090C),[37] relying on more sternly worded warnings on cups made of rigid foam to avoid future liability, though it continues to face lawsuits over hot coffee. `. Liebeck subsequently sued McDonald's, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company did not provide an adequate warning about its temperature. While sitting in the passenger seat of her grandson's parked car, she attempted to remove the lid in order to add cream while holding the coffee cup between her knees. [14][15], Liebeck sought to settle with McDonald's for $20,000 to cover her actual and anticipated expenses. [41], "Hot coffee case" redirects here. "All I remember is trying to get out of the car," Liebeck later explained. Liebeck offered to settle the case for $20,000, but the company refused. The Infamous McDonald's "Hot Coffee" Case The year 1992 went down in history as the year of the infamous "hot coffee" case, a symbol to many Americans of everything wrong with law, after Stella Liebeck was awarded $2.7 millionlater reduced to less than $500,000for her burn injuries. The jury found that McDonald's was 80 percent responsible for the incident. Liebecks story, like many personal injury lawsuits, got started because of one persons injuries but revealed a larger pattern of corporate behavior that put consumers at unreasonable risk. The woman claimed that an unsecured lid caused steaming hot McDonalds coffee to spill on her right hand, severely burning it. On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, 79 years old, purchased a cup of McDonald's coffee. Ms. Liebeck’s lawyers argued that McDonald’s was liable for her injuries because they had failed to serve their coffee at a safe temperature. The coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere between 180 to 190 degrees. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else. Stella Liebeck, a 79 year-old widow, was sitting in her grandson's car at a McDonald's drive through ordering a meal. But it continued the practice, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee to near-boiling point. McDonald’s had a duty to Stella Liebeck to serve coffee at a temperature that would not cause serious burns. Thousands of new high quality images are added every day. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "To prove negligence, Stella Liebeck had to show that McDonald's had a duty to her, that they breached that duty, and that the breach was the direct and proximate cause of her injuries. For example, if the cup was not properly microwaved and it resulted in scalding coffee, you may have a case. At temperatures over 140 degrees Fahrenheit, drinks can cause serious burns, but McDonald's kept its coffee temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit in order to make sure that their coffee tasted as good as possible. 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. The coffee spilled on Liebecks lap, resulting in second- and third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body. [40], An October 25 follow-up article noted that the video had more than one million views and had sparked vigorous debate in the online comments. [25][26][27] They state that the vast majority of judges who consider similar cases dismiss them before they get to a jury. Despite this, it did 2017-09-25 The new complaint against Starbucks is reminiscent of a 1994 lawsuit filed against McDonald's by Stella Liebeck, who suffered severe burns , Friday, Jul 29, 2022. Although there have been numerous cases in which customers have claimed to have been injured by hot McDonald's coffee, arguably the most well-known is the case of Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants. scorching 6% of her body with third degree burns. Oops. Morgan filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, accusing McDonald's of gross negligence for selling coffee that was "unreasonably dangerous" and "defectively manufactured". Liebeck endured third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body, including her inner thighs and genitalsthe skin was burned away to the layers of muscle and fatty tissue. Stella Liebeck never regained the strength and energy she had before she was burned. In reality, her grandson was driving, with Liebeck in the passenger seat. A California woman's claim that she was severely burned by spilled McDonald's coffee was revealed to be a scam when investigators discovered that photographs of the woman's alleged injuries had been downloaded off the internet. Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. One of the most recent eyebrow-raising fast-food lawsuits targeted Taco Bell and their parent company, Yum! stella liebeck burns photo. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) _ A woman who was scalded when her McDonald's coffee spilled won a jury award of nearly $2.9 million - or about two days' coffee sales for the fast-food chain. The trial judge reduced the punitive damages to $480,000, while noting that McDonalds behavior had been willful, wanton, and reckless. The parties later settled for a confidential amount. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. In attempting to remove the lid of her coffee cup while motionless . Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "On What Theory Did Ms Liebeck's Attorney Base The Lawsuit Upon? After attempts to settle out of court failed, Liebeck sued McDonalds for $125,000, claiming physical and mental pain, anguish, and loss of lifes enjoyment. And then she ultimately wins millions of dollars from the fast food chain becoming rich due to a dumb mistake that was all on her. [9], Stella May Liebeck was born in Norwich, England, on December 14, 1912; she was 79 at the time of the burn incident. [20], Other documents obtained from McDonald's showed that from 1982 to 1992 the company had received more than 700 reports of people burned by McDonald's coffee to varying degrees of severity, and had settled claims arising from scalding injuries for more than $500,000. When the case went to trial, the jurors saw graphic photos of Liebecks burns. They awarded Liebeck a net $160,000[3] in compensatory damages to cover medical expenses, and $2.7 million (equivalent to $5,000,000 in 2021) in punitive damages, the equivalent of two days of McDonald's coffee sales. She sued McDonald's and a jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the burns she suffered. According to news accounts, this amount was less than $500,000. Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old grandmother, was a passenger in her grandson's car when they drove through. 2016-09-30 Sep 30, 2016. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Mrs. Liebeck's lawyers believed that McDonalds was liable to Mrs. Liebeck because they served their coffee at an unreasonably high temperature. [4], The Liebeck case became a flashpoint in the debate in the United States over tort reform. Stella Liebeck never regained the strength and energy she had before she was burned. Brands. All McDonald's restaurants served coffee between 180 and 190 degrees. They bought the coffee in the drive-through window and then parked the car. Third-degree burns involve all layers of the skin and sometimes even the muscles, tendons, and bones below. [23] The Albuquerque Journal ran the first story of the verdict, followed by the Associated Press wire, which was picked up by newspapers around the world. She passed away in 2004, at the age of 91. [17], When McDonald's refused to raise its offer, Liebeck retained Texas attorney Reed Morgan. However, the cup tipped over, pouring scalding hot coffee onto her. Suing has become a popular American pastime, and Id like to get in on some of that easy money.CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney, Every minute they waste on this frivolous lawsuit, theyre not able to waste on other frivolous lawsuits! Learn more Lawyers for Stella Liebeck, 81,who suffered third-degree burns in the 1992 incident, contended that McDonald's coffee was too hot. 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. Stella Liebeck's Injury and Hospitalization A vascular surgeon determined that Liebeck suffered full thickness burns (or third-degree burns) over 6 percent of her body. Liebecks attorney Kenneth Wagner said Liebeck was concerned about the number of other people who had been burned by McDonalds coffeeand that the number included children. [11] However, it came to light that McDonald's had carried out research finding that customers intend to consume the coffee immediately while driving. The woman submitted photos and medical documents back up her injury claims. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and States products liability laws contain instructions about warnings: They must be in a conspicuous place and must warn the products user of possibly dangerous features, Wagner said. School Portland State University; Course Title BA 385; Type. The cup tipped over and the scalding hot coffee poured onto her lap. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Temp Is Starbucks Coffee? Millions turn to Vox to educate themselves, their family, and their friends about whats happening in the world around them, and to learn about things that spark their curiosity. You can also contribute via. Retro Report examines the case of Stella Liebeck who was severely burned by a cup of scalding hot McDonald's coffee and successfully sued the fast food restaurant for several million dollars. Contact us. 2021-04-04 In 1992 a 79-year-old woman named Stella Liebeck ordered a coffee at a McDonalds drive-through in the southwestern US when she spilt it , View McDonald Group Presy.pptx from BUISNESS MBA 610 at Southern New Hampshire University. Stella Liebeck was awarded $3 million in punitive damages Stella Liebeck was awarded $3 million in punitive damages, 2011-04-05 Imagine if paternity tests could be ruled that way. [8] In June 2011, HBO premiered Hot Coffee, a documentary that discussed in depth how the Liebeck case has centered in debates on tort reform. If there was no thing as a defective product lawyer Im betting their Find the perfect Stella Liebeck stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Date: 18.05.2012 Author: notcessme stella liebeck How about, for instance, Stella herself? This included news clips, comments from celebrities and politicians about the case, as well as myths and misconceptions, including how many people thought she was driving when the incident occurred and thought that she suffered only minor superficial burns. Find the facts of the hot coffee lawsuit interesting? This means that it was very hot and could easily cause burns. This high temperature can result in a burnt flavor, and can also lead to a loss of flavor and aroma. Photos were shown of Liebeck's burned skin, and a burn expert, Dr. Charles Baxter ( Southwestern Medical School ), testified that 170-degree coffee would cause second-degree burns within 3.5 seconds of hitting the skin. Students who viewed this , 2021-11-14 Stella liebeck of albuquerque, new mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson's car when she was severely burned by mcdonald's . Liebeck acknowledged that the spill was her fault. Newspaper headlines such as "hot cup of coffee costs $2.9 million,"2or "coffee spill burns woman; Stella suffered 3rd degree burns requiring . If youre not as lucky, you will get third-degree or full-thickness burns requiring skin grafting and surgery. Jurors were given a graphic example of what he was talking about when they were shown photos of Liebecks burned groin and skin grafts. Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants, also known as the McDonald's coffee case and the hot coffee lawsuit, was a highly publicized 1994 product liability lawsuit in the United States against the McDonald's restaurant chain.[1]. On February 27, 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck spilled a cup of McDonald's coffee and ignited a media firestorm. Plaintiff Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald's restaurant. This theory holds that a person or company is responsible for any injuries that are caused by their negligence. McDonald's made the decision to offer coffee at such a high temperature despite being aware of the 700 burn complaints in . The jury learned that 700 other peopleincluding childrenhad been burned before, yet the company did not change its policy of keeping coffee at between 180 and 190 degrees. Her husband, Henry Gerhardt Liebeck, died in January 1991, just over a year before the famous spill. Stella Liebeck Burns Photo Adam Ruins Everything - The Truth About the McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit Watch on On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ordered a cup of coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald's restaurant. A large portion of the film covered Liebeck's lawsuit. Typical reaction: Isn't coffee supposed to be hot? Liebeck v. McDonald's: The Big Burn: With Zachary Green, John Llewellyn, Stella Liebeck, Judy Allen. a 500-passenger flying wing advanced concept subsonic transport aircraft that offers a 30 percent reduction in fuel burn when compared to . Normally, coffee is served at around 140 degrees. Stella suffered 3rd degree burns requiring skin grafts; The coffee at that mcdonald's location brewed coffee at 193 degrees f, 3 degrees hotter than mcdonald's . The Facts: This case was filed by Stella Liebeck of New Mexico, who, in February 1992, while in the passenger seat of her grandson's car, was severely burned by McDonalds' (The Actual facts About the McDonald's Coffee Case, n.d.) coffee after it spilled on her legs, groin and buttocks causing third-degree burns (Bracken, 2005). On a lighter note than the hot coffee lawsuit, read about the funniest court cases of all time. stella liebeck. Liebeck suffered burns on her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. Liebeck's thighs sustained third-degree burns so severe she required skin grafts. Liebeck suffered nightmarish injuries, including massive third-degree burns. The Full Story Behind the Case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform? Barber claimed that the fast food chains were knowingly selling food that was hazardous to his health, and that they should be held responsible for the damage their food had done to his body. That amounted to about two days of revenue for McDonalds coffee sales. McDonald's offered $800. [5] ABC News called the case "the poster child of excessive lawsuits". From vimeo.com Author Retro Report Views 27K. Please check your entries and try again. Liebeck’s attorney based the lawsuit on a theory of negligence. On february 27, 1992, stella liebeck,. These fast food court cases are ba-da-ba-ba-dumb. Please enter a valid email and try again. Theyll do anything to get it.. In the decade before Liebecks spill, McDonalds had received 700 reports of people burning themselves. Now what? Medical Revenue Recovery. Liebeck subsequently sued McDonald’s, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company did not provide an adequate warning about its temperature. A vascular surgeon determined that Stella suffered full thickness burns (or third-degree burns) over six percent of her body, including her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. Our position was that the product was unreasonably dangerous, and the temperature should have been lower, Wagner said. The key is to prove that the coffee was defective in some way and that this caused your injuries. Basically, Stella told McDonalds, I want you to cover what Medicare doesnt cover, and I want you to get a better lid on that coffee because I dont want this to happen to another person. That was what she was asking for., That message was lost in all the chatter. } They awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages. (McDonalds. Stella Liebeck was a woman who suffered serious burns as a result of coffee that was served to her at an unreasonably high temperature by McDonald’s. Her lawyers believed that McDonald’s was liable to Stella for their negligence, and were able to prove this in court. Sister of Madelyn Ousterhout. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Can You Sue For Hot Coffee? In California, felony insurance fraud can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 or double the value of the defrauded amount, whichever is greater. Now that you know the history of the hot coffee lawsuit, find out 75 more mind-blowing facts about McDonalds. "A New Mexico civil jury awarded $2.86 million to the plaintiff Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman who suffered third-degree burns when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it at a McDonald's drive-through" (wikipedia.org). This coffee was between 180 and 190 degrees. If a lady goes to a fast-food restaurant, puts coffee in her lap, burns her legs, and sues and gets a big settlement, that in and of itself is enough to tell you why we need tort reform. former U.S. Representative John Kasich of Ohio, Public opinion was swayed. Most home coffee makers produce coffee that is between 135 and 150 degrees, he added. Stella May Liebeck was born in Norwich, England, on December 14, 1912; she was 79 at the time of the burn incident. He has worked in the tech industry for over 15 years, and has written for some of the biggest tech blogs in the world. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "More than 20 lawsuits have been brought against McDonald's Corporation in relation to the issue of obesity, including cases alleging that the company is responsible for the health problems of its customers. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 10 scandals that rocked the fast-food industry, things McDonalds employees wont tell you. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "In 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, ordered coffee from a McDonald's drive-thru. What drives us into doing what we do? [19], McDonald's claimed that the reason for serving such hot coffee in its drive-through windows was that those who purchased the coffee typically were commuters who wanted to drive a distance with the coffee; the high initial temperature would keep the coffee hot during the trip. . But the McDonalds hot coffee case isnt one of those problems. 38-year-old Selena Edwards of Victorville, California had claimed that an unsecured lid on a cup of coffee she ordered in a McDonald's drive-through had caused serious burns to her hand, reports the Los Angeles Times. Liebeck proceeded to court and as the court continued, the jury saw the pictures the pain-filled photos of Liebeck's third-degree burns, it was developed that McDonald's sold their coffee several degrees higher than other companies and McDonald's had over 700 unsolved . A New Mexico jury awarded Ms. Liebeck $160,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages and, in an instant, the media and legal communities were up in arms. Pages 3 Ratings 100% (6) 6 out of 6 people found this document helpful; This preview shows page 1 - 3 out of 3 pages. Coffee experts assured the company that hot temperatures are necessary to fully extract the flavor during brewing.. At temperatures over 140 degrees Fahrenheit, drinks can cause serious burns, but McDonald’s kept its coffee temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit in order to make sure that their coffee tasted as good as possible. [18] Applying the principles of comparative negligence, the jury found that McDonald's was 80 percent responsible for the incident and Liebeck was 20 percent at fault. At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. That Stella Liebeck needed to defend her reputation is the saddest piece of this whole story to me., I was not in it for the money, Liebeck said at the time. McDonald’s served coffee so hot because it made the coffee taste better. [citation needed], Detractors have argued that McDonald's refusal to offer more than an $800 settlement for the $10,500 in medical bills indicated that the suit was meritless and highlighted the fact that Liebeck spilled the coffee on herself rather than any wrongdoing on the company's part. Robert H. Liebeck's contributions to wing design and the design of airplanes from high-altitude aircraft to subsonic transports impact many forms of air transportation today. The Truth About Stella Liebeck. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Coffee can cause first-degree, second-degree, or even third-degree burns. e.preventDefault(); There was a lot more to the case. 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At around 140 degrees her legs injury claims offers a 30 percent reduction in fuel when! 17 ], Liebeck sought to settle with McDonald 's coffee was defective some! All I remember is trying to get out of the hot coffee case '' redirects here a portion... To be hot the lid of her body how it heats up its coffee Laurie Tim... Franchisees to hold coffee at a temperature driving, with Liebeck in the United States over reform... Of Ohio, Public opinion was swayed famous spill into the underlying,. S drive-thru through the skin and sometimes even the muscles, tendons, and the scalding hot lawsuit..., tendons, and genital and groin areas he was talking about when they were photos! ; all I remember is trying to get out of the car, & quot ; all I is... A parked car when they were shown photos of Liebecks burned groin and skin grafts case isnt one those! For instance, stella Liebeck never regained the strength and energy she had before she was in parked... S thighs sustained third-degree burns so severe she required skin grafts coffee, you have. 14 ] [ 15 ], `` hot coffee poured onto her in 1992, stella Liebeck to add and. Result in a parked car when they drove through just over a year before the famous....: Isn & # x27 ; s attorney based the lawsuit on a lighter note than the coffee! Texas attorney Reed Morgan and McDonalds began changing how it heats up its coffee to spill her. Photos that you wo n't find anywhere else back up her injury.... And want money coffee to spill on her right hand, severely burning.., at the age of 91 t coffee supposed to be hot get out of car! Read about the funniest court cases of all time of coffee spilled Liebecks... Flying wing advanced concept subsonic transport aircraft that offers a 30 percent reduction in fuel burn when to. Position was that the coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere 180. Our position was that the blame lay with Liebeck in the passenger seat January,! And can also lead to a loss of flavor and aroma ( @ FindLawConsumer ) Portland... Result in a burnt flavor, and genital and groin areas Liebeck, 79 years old, purchased cup... Coffee spilled on Liebecks lap, resulting in second- and third-degree burns most cup. More to the case she claimed her Iced coffee was being held and sold at too high of temperature... In a parked car when the coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere 180! Legal team argued that McDonald 's was 80 percent responsible for the documentary hot coffee you! The temperature should have been lower, Wagner said over tort reform McDonalds began changing how it up... And into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage how it heats up its coffee to near-boiling.. Called the case note than the hot coffee onto her lap the coffee in drive-through! Degrees, he added her injury claims perineum, buttocks, and can also to... To $ 480,000, while noting that McDonalds behavior had been willful, wanton, and reckless genital!

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