20 Years Later: Get the Facts
Straight about the McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case!
This
case may be one of the most sensational and high profile tort cases in recent
memory, and the media incorrectly reported nearly all of the facts. This case was one that proponents of tort
reform used as a rallying cry to attempt to limit jury verdicts in what they
thought were frivolous cases. Tort
reformers will typically attach themselves to a case that garners national
attention, and spin the facts to make the jury verdicts seem ridiculous and
nonsensical. It was reported that she
was awarded 2.9 million dollars, but the actual amount was reduced to a much
smaller amount.
The facts of this case prove that
nothing was frivolous about her claim.
Stella Liebeck, was 79-years-old when she spilled a cup of coffee in her
lap while sitting in a parked car at a McDonald’s parking lot in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. The coffee that was spilled
in her lap that day was served to her at a temperature of 180 to 190 degrees,
which is about 30 degrees hotter than most home brewing machines. The coffee caused her to suffer burns over
16% of her body, and 6% of those burns were third degree burns. She was in the hospital for one week and
amassed medical bills in excess of $10,000.00.
She attempted to settle with McDonald’s, but was only offered $800.00 to
settle her claim.
A seven day trial ensued, which included
testimony from burn experts that liquids served at between 180 to 190 degrees
could cause third degree burns within 15 seconds of contact. To drive home the severity of the burns, the
plaintiff’s attorney produced pictures of the burn area, which are quite
graphic. McDonald’s was well aware that
their hot beverages were being served at dangerous temperatures. Between 1983 and 1992 nearly 700 people had
been burned by hot coffee at McDonald’s.
McDonald’s believed that because these burns occurred in only 1 out of
24 million cups sold, it was statistically insignificant. The jurors felt differently when they awarded
compensatory damages in the amount of $200,000.00. The jury was asked whether McDonald’s should
be punished: evidence showed that McDonald’s ignored hundreds of other burn
claims, and chose to keep brewing the hot coffee. Internal memos indicated that McDonald’s chose
profits over safety. Jurors awarded
punitive damages against McDonald’s in the amount of 2.7 million dollars, which
was based on the revenue of two days of coffee sales. Unfortunately she was only awarded 1/6 of
what the jury felt she was entitled to. The
judge in the case drastically reduced the total award from 2.9 million dollars
to $650,000.00.
McDonald’s now serves coffee at
between 170 and 180 degrees, which is 10-20 degrees cooler than they previously
served it. Stella Liebeck, passed away
in 2004 at the age of 91, but she is still a part of our popular culture and
this case is still one of the most misunderstood cases ever reported. To hear Stella’s story in her own words click
the link below[1]. If there is one thing to take away from this
case, it is that we shouldn’t be so quick to jump to the conclusion that an
injury claim is frivolous. An individual
suffered very serious injuries in this case, and was made the subject of jokes
and is still being ridiculed today nearly 10 years after she passed away. She did nothing to deserve the media
attention that she received as a result of this lawsuit. She simply opened a cup of coffee that was
served to her at a dangerous temperature, and she suffered damages as a
result.
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