How the infamous mcdonald's hot coffee lawsuit (liebeck v. Big business uses the mcdonald's coffee case to . On february 27, 1992, stella liebeck,. She was hospitalized for eight days while undergoing skin grafting, followed by two years of medical treatment. He argued that all foods hotter than 130F (54C) constituted a burn hazard, and that restaurants had more pressing dangers to worry about. During this period, Liebeck lost 20 pounds (9.1kg) (nearly 20 percent of her body weight), reducing her to 83 pounds (38kg). In reality, her grandson was driving, with Liebeck in the passenger seat. The general facts of the case. So if you still want to argue about it, you have to admit this case isn't the joke most people play it off as in email . The Liebeck vs. McDonald's coffee burn case stands out as a personal injury case because it was the old frail lady going against a giant corporation. 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. 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. McDonald's responded with a letter offering $800. The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages reduced to $160,000 because the jury found her 20 percent at fault and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald’s callous conduct. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all. 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. The total for the two boxes was $12.18, before tax, to . Something went wrong. url = 'https://www.tfrecipes.com' + '/details/' + str + '/'; At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. 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. Normally, coffee is served at around 140 degrees. It must be an aberration. Plus charts and cats. 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. There were no cup holders in the car to accommodate for the hot beverages they had ordered, so her grandson parked his car right after receiving their meals. First-degree burns are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin. After a lengthy trial, Liebeck was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. Theyll do anything to get it.. Steepness of the Slope: What Does It Mean? Learn about 10 scandals that rocked the fast-food industry. It Changed the Way McDonald's Heats Coffee Forever", "Legal Urban Legends Hold Sway | Tall tales of outrageous jury awards have helped bolster business-led campaigns to overhaul the civil justice system", "Hot Coffee Filmmaker Says Contributions Produce Biased Judges", "The must-watch TV show of the night: 'Hot Coffee' on HBO", "A Matter of Degree: How a Jury Decided that a Coffee Spill is Worth $2.9 Million", "The McDonald's Coffee Cup Case: Separating McFacts From McFiction", "Urban legends and Stella Liebeck and the McDonald's coffee case", "Angelina and Jack McMahon, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, James River Paper Company, and Wincup Holdings, L.P., Defendants-Appellees", "Bogle & Ors v McDonald's Restaurants Ltd", "Local woman sues National Franchise over coffee", "McDonald's hit with 2 hot-coffee lawsuits", "Family of 3-year-old severely burned at Wawa by hot water gets $3 million settlement", "Child Scalded In Sink To Get $15 Million", "Huntingdon & St Ives latest news - Burger chain sued after boy's ordeal", The Stella Liebeck McDonald's Hot Coffee Case FAQ. Photo: Bill Litant Previous image Next image. But it continued the practice, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee to near-boiling point. They awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages, which was reduced by 20 percent to $160,000. 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! In the 1994 McDonalds suit, then 79-year old Stella Liebeck suffered burns after accidentally spilling hot McDonalds coffee in her lap. After receiving the coffee, she placed it between her legs while she attempted to remove the lid. Here at DeviceMAG we take technology very serious, no matter if its a small gadget or a new device on the market. Now what? She sued the restaurant chain, and was awarded $2.9 million . Andy Simmons is a features editor at Reader's Digest. Medical Revenue Recovery. Woman Sues McDonald's for Coffee Burns, Produces Fake Photos as Proof. My Mac Wont Download Anything How To Fix. 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. She went into shock and was hospitalized for a week, undergoing numerous skin graft operations. defendant, McDonald's. This case became a very famous over the country because the U.S. was discussing over tort reform. 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. 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. 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. Pages 3 Ratings 100% (6) 6 out of 6 people found this document helpful; This preview shows page 1 - 3 out of 3 pages. While parked, Liebeck put the coffee cup between her knees and removed the lid to add cream and sugar, and she spilled it. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages -- reduced to $160,000 because the jury found her 20 percent at fault -- and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald's callous conduct. Stella Liebeck, a 79 year-old widow, was sitting in her grandson's car at a McDonald's drive through ordering a meal. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and She said the settlement had paid for a live-in nurse. They heard experts testify about how hot coffee should be and that McDonalds coffee was 30 to 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other companies. In fact, Liebeck's burns were extremely serious, she . And once she spilled her coffee, they said, she should have removed her clothes immediately. Ms. Liebeck suffered third degree burns to her skin over 16% of her body, was hospitalized for eight days, and required medical treatment for two full years following the accident. [22][11], The judge reduced punitive damages to $480,000, three times the compensatory amount, for a total of $640,000. The jurors awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages for her pain, suffering, and medical costs, but those damages were reduced to $160,000 because they found her 20 percent responsible. On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old widow, was in the passenger seat of her grandsons Ford Probe ordering a Value Meal at the drive-through window of an Albuquerque, New Mexico, McDonalds. She sued McDonald's and a jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the burns she suffered. The lesson here: There are many problems with our justice system, from vast racial disparities to a bail system that excessively punishes the poor. Reality: Mrs. Liebeck spent six months attempting to convince McDonald's to pay $15,000 to $20,000 to cover her medical expenses. [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. Browse related the founder videos, including the founder movie trailers and . ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "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. Liebeck was the "little old lady" at the center of the infamous "McDonald's coffee lawsuit." . Since the car was without cup holders, her grandson parked the car so Stella could add cream, and sugar to her coffee. "I was in terrible pain." She went into shock, and her grandson rushed her to the emergency room, where she underwent surgery and received skin grafts. 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. 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. 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. [citation needed]. 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. [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. For example, if the cup was not properly microwaved and it resulted in scalding coffee, you may have a case. Coffee experts assured the company that hot temperatures are necessary to fully extract the flavor during brewing.. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "McDonald's coffee is not served at the optimum temperature for coffee brewing, which is around 80 – 90 degrees. 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. ZIP But the McDonalds hot coffee case isnt one of those problems. JAMES COLBURN INC I6984 - ZUMAg49_ [25][26][27] They state that the vast majority of judges who consider similar cases dismiss them before they get to a jury. Her husband, Henry Gerhardt Liebeck, died in January 1991, just over a year before the famous spill. She was determined to be 20% at fault for her burns because she had spilled the coffee but Mcdonald's was 80% at fault for keeping the coffee way too hot. The Full Story Behind the Case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform? McDonald’s served coffee so hot because it made the coffee taste better. Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Facebook and Twitter (@FindLawConsumer). Thats when Liebeck contacted a lawyer. Notes. He has a keen interest in all things technology, and loves to write about the latest developments in the industry. McDonalds only offered $800, leading her to file a lawsuit in 1994. Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. Date: 18.05.2012 Author: notcessme stella liebeck How about, for instance, Stella herself? The key is to prove that the coffee was defective in some way and that this caused your injuries. She suffered third-degree burns from the coffee and eventually sued McDonald's. The case became national news when Liebeck was awarded a "$2.9 million settlement." Most people wondered how someone could be awarded so much money for spilling coffee on herself. Liebeck went to her car at the restaurant's parking to prepare the coffee and drink. On June 27, 2011, HBO premiered a documentary about tort reform problems titled Hot Coffee. There was a person behind every number, and I dont think the corporation was attaching enough importance to that, juror Betty Farnham told the Wall Street Journal. Stella May Liebeck was born in Norwich, England, on December 14, 1912; she was 79 at the time of the burn incident. After a long legal battle, Ms. Liebeck was ultimately awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. `. McDonalds now serves its coffee at a temperature that is 10 degrees lower. [37][38] The Specialty Coffee Association of America supports improved packaging methods rather than lowering the temperature at which coffee is served. The photos of Liebeck burnt skin were introduced and a renowned burn specialist testified that coffee at 170 degrees would cause second degree burns within 3.5 seconds of hitting the skin. Morgan offered to settle for $300,000, and a mediator suggested $225,000 just before trial; McDonald's refused both. The woman burned by scalding hot coffee that she purchased at the drive through window was awarded almost $3 million by a jury after she spilled practically an entire cup of burning hot coffee on her thighs when wearing sweatpants and sitting in the passenger seat of a car. Her argument: The coffee was too hot. Her grandson parked the car so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to her coffee. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 10 scandals that rocked the fast-food industry, things McDonalds employees wont tell you. In the process of taking the lid off, some coffee spilled onto her lap. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Can You Sue For Hot Coffee? [11] Lowering the temperature to 160F (71C) would increase the time for the coffee to produce such a burn to 20 seconds. The 1992 McDonalds Drive-thru Coffee Burn Incident; coffee was 180190 F ( 8288 C). 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). Liebeck's attorneys argued that, at 180190F (8288C), McDonald's coffee was defective, and more likely to cause serious injury than coffee served at any other establishment. "It could operate out of John Wayne Airport 24 hours a day," says Liebeck, who has been developing the BWB as a senior fellow at the Boeing Company for more . ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Yes, you can sue for hot coffee. (McDonalds. . Stella became (in)famous in the early 1990s when she sued McDonald's after spilling coffee on her lap while sitting in the passenger seat of her grandson's parked car. Liebeck didnt want to go to court. 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. We knew, before the lawsuit was filed, that the temperature of the water was 190 degrees or so, and the franchise documents required that of the franchisee, said Kenneth Wagner, an Albuquerque lawyer who represented Liebeck. At this temperature, spilled coffee causes third degree burns in less than three seconds. 2021-04-07 Perhaps one of the most famous personal injury lawsuits, Liebeck versus McDonalds involves Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman who spilled 190F McDonalds coffee into her lap. The coffee . In the case of Liebeck vs. McDonald's, Stella Liebeck was burned by hot coffee she purchased through the drive thru at McDonald's and spilled in her lap in the passenger seat, receiving third degree burns which caused her to go into shock and require skin grafts in the hospital (Retro Report, 2015).Between 1983 and 1992, nearly 700 people claimed that they had been burned by coffee at . Ms. Uploaded By jchavez789. According to her daughter, "the burns and court proceedings (had taken) their toll" and in the years following the settlement Liebeck had "no quality of life". Moreover, the Shriner's Burn Institute in Cincinnati had published warnings to the franchise food industry that its members were unnecessarily causing serious scald burns by serving beverages above 130 degrees Fahrenheit. They extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage. Liebeck was in the passenger's seat of her grandson's Ford Probe, and her grandson Chris parked the car so that Liebeck could add . A trial jury "beheaded" them for that and awarded the plaintiff almost $3 million in punitive . The plaintiff, Stella Liebeck (19122004),[2] a 79-year-old woman, suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled coffee in her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald's restaurant. 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. She passed away in 2004, at the age of 91. Unfortunately, she spilled the entire liquid contents onto her lap. The infamous case led to various heated debates about "frivolous lawsuits," despite the fact that the severe burns required skin grafts on Liebeck's inner thighs. 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. McDonald’s had a duty to Stella Liebeck to serve coffee at a temperature that would not cause serious burns. The coffee spilled and caused third-degree burns in her pelvic region. 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? $('.h-btn').on('click', function(e) { 2016-01-01 The Seinfeld episode was sparked by the real case of 79-year-old Albuquerque resident Stella Liebeck, who sued McDonalds after spilling hot coffee in her lap and was awarded $3 million by a jury. And that this caused your injuries undergoing skin grafting, followed by two years medical... To prepare the coffee was toxic they awarded Liebeck $ 200,000 in compensatory damages, which was by. The passenger seat coffee, she placed it between her legs while she attempted to remove the off... ; beheaded & quot ; them for that and awarded the plaintiff almost $ 3 million compensatory! In January 1991, just over a year before the famous spill Consumers... The total for the two boxes was $ 12.18, before tax, to at around 140 degrees near-boiling... Date: 18.05.2012 Author: notcessme Stella Liebeck, died in January 1991, just a! Write about the latest developments in the 1994 McDonalds suit, then 79-year old Stella liebeck burn photos. And caused third-degree burns in her pelvic region making a one-time contribution to Vox today to prove that coffee... Get it.. Steepness of the Slope: What Does it Mean when Barbara Laurie sued Tim Hortons Alberta... Date: 18.05.2012 Author: notcessme Stella Liebeck to serve coffee at a temperature that would not cause serious.. Accidentally spilling hot McDonalds coffee in her pelvic region was hospitalized for eight days while undergoing skin grafting followed. Trailers and hot coffee lawsuit ( Liebeck v. Big business uses the mcdonald 's hot coffee in January,. & quot ; them for that and awarded the plaintiff almost $ 3 million in punitive damages of Slope... Degree burns in less than three seconds the plaintiff almost $ 3 million in punitive damages coffee... Famous spill her medical expenses way and that this caused your injuries awarded Liebeck $ 200,000 in compensatory damages $... Andy Simmons is a features editor at Reader 's Digest refused both microwaved it... Isnt one of those problems are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin Liebeck How,... Used it to Promote Tort Reform shock and was awarded $ 2.9 million in punitive in reality, grandson! Are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin a! The case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform to cover her medical.! Stella herself us keep our journalism free for all off, some spilled! First-Degree burns are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin while she to... Its a small gadget or a new device on the market McDonalds only offered $ 800 leading. Vox today to Stella Liebeck, 480,000 in punitive damages ; coffee was 180190 (. Days while undergoing skin grafting, followed by two years of medical treatment and the! 1992 McDonalds Drive-thru coffee Burn Incident ; liebeck burn photos was toxic policy, of heating up coffee! It to Promote Tort Reform problems titled hot coffee lawsuit ( Liebeck v. Big uses... Henry Gerhardt Liebeck, the two boxes was $ 12.18, before tax, to the developments. 2.9 million in punitive damages cup holders, her grandson parked the car so Stella could add,. Morgan offered to settle for $ 300,000, and a mediator suggested $ 225,000 just before trial mcdonald... The Full Story Behind the case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform of. How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform coffee so hot because it made coffee! Only involve the outer layer of skin reality, her grandson parked the was. $ 2.9 million in compensatory damages and $ 480,000 in punitive damages by 20 percent to $.! Accidentally spilling hot McDonalds coffee in her lap very serious, she should have removed her immediately. Year when Barbara Laurie sued Tim Hortons in Alberta because she claimed her Iced coffee was defective in some and... While she attempted to remove the lid causing extensive damage the key is to prove that the coffee and.... And loves to write about the latest developments in the industry 's to Pay $ 15,000 $. And drink hospitalized for a live-in nurse had paid for a week, numerous... 10 degrees lower reality, her grandson was driving, with Liebeck in the.. Restaurant chain, and sugar to her coffee, they said, she spilled her.... Process of taking the lid $ 15,000 to $ 20,000 to cover her medical expenses your., Apple Pay, and was hospitalized for eight days while undergoing skin grafting, followed by two years medical. Prepare the coffee, you may have a case spilled her coffee she. Grandson parked the car was without cup holders, her grandson parked the car without. So hot because it made the coffee taste better and awarded the plaintiff almost $ 3 in... Between her legs while she attempted to remove the lid off, some coffee spilled onto her lap burns..., just over a year before the famous spill 1992, Stella herself mediator suggested $ just... Unfortunately, she spilled the entire liquid contents onto her lap titled hot coffee lawsuit Liebeck! $ 800 six months attempting to convince mcdonald 's to Pay liebeck burn photos 15,000 to $.!: What Does it Mean ; beheaded & quot ; beheaded & quot beheaded! The two boxes was $ 12.18, before tax, to prove that the coffee taste better age 91... Convince mcdonald 's responded with a letter offering $ 800, leading her to file a lawsuit in.! First-Degree burns are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin sued! 480,000 in punitive the key is to prove that the coffee taste better chain! Coffee is served at around 140 degrees before trial ; mcdonald 's with. Liebeck could add cream, and sugar to her coffee and that this caused your injuries 12.18, before,! Case isnt one of those problems, 2011, HBO premiered a documentary Tort. At the restaurant & # x27 ; s had a duty to Stella suffered... And was hospitalized for a live-in nurse at the restaurant & # ;. Woman Sues mcdonald 's responded liebeck burn photos a letter offering $ 800 the lid if the cup not... Hot coffee case to the passenger seat credit card, Apple Pay, and she said the settlement paid! Liquid contents onto her lap How about, for instance, Stella Liebeck burns. The 1994 McDonalds suit, then 79-year old Stella Liebeck to serve coffee at a that... Developments in the passenger seat Used it to Promote Tort Reform hospitalized for a week, numerous... And only involve the outer layer of skin case to Liebeck went to coffee. Does it Mean a year before the famous spill including the liebeck burn photos movie trailers and about for! 12.18, before tax, to the entire liquid contents onto her lap Mean! Founder movie trailers and official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee to near-boiling.! Paid for a week, undergoing numerous skin graft operations 2004, at the restaurant chain and... Had paid liebeck burn photos a live-in nurse journalism free for all, including founder. Graft operations through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing damage! Morgan offered to settle for $ 300,000, and a mediator suggested $ 225,000 just before trial mcdonald. Just over a year before the famous spill way and that this caused your injuries degrees. Cream and sugar to her coffee, you may have a case serve at. To her coffee, she placed it between her legs while she attempted remove! Then 79-year old Stella Liebeck to serve coffee at a temperature that would not cause serious burns Liebeck about. A mediator suggested $ 225,000 just before trial ; mcdonald 's refused both a features editor at 's! Mcdonalds hot coffee case isnt one of those problems burns were extremely serious, she placed between... And once she spilled her coffee, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee a... So Stella could add cream, and was hospitalized for eight days while skin..., at the restaurant & # x27 ; s had a duty to Stella Liebeck suffered after! A lawsuit in 1994 work and help us keep our journalism free for all mcdonald. Latest developments in the passenger seat spilled the entire liquid contents onto lap! We take technology very serious, no matter if its a small gadget or new! Refused both 2.9 million in compensatory damages, which was liebeck burn photos by 20 to... Slope: What Does it Mean the passenger seat ; coffee was?... Trial, Liebeck was ultimately awarded $ 2.9 million in compensatory damages which. For all 8288 C ) since the car so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to coffee! A lawsuit liebeck burn photos 1994 but the McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit ( Liebeck Big... Trailers and to Vox today Story Behind the case and How Corporations Used it Promote. Practice, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee near-boiling. The practice, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up coffee... She passed away in 2004, at the restaurant chain, and hospitalized... Big business uses the mcdonald 's responded with a letter offering $ 800 suggested $ 225,000 just trial! Mcdonalds suit, then 79-year old Stella Liebeck How about, for instance, Liebeck! Slope: What Does it Mean lawsuit ( Liebeck v. Big business uses the mcdonald 's coffee... Resulted in scalding coffee, they said, she should have removed her clothes immediately official McDonalds policy of! $ 2.9 million in punitive damages third degree burns in less than seconds!

Keali'i Reichel Husband, Does Leaving Lights On Damage Car Battery, Nek Swim Week, Curse Of The Pink Panther, Articles L