The McDonald's Coffee Spill Lawsuit Is Not What You Think. Think Again!

Ms. Liebeck was 79 when this happened. Generally the skin on the elderly is much thinner than younger people and third degree burns resulting from a very hot cup of coffee are quite likely.

That is ridiculous "I knew the coffee was hot but,I didnt know it was that hot,If I would have known it was that hot I would have taken extra precautions to not dump it in my lap,because reg coffee is only going to burn me a little."gimme a break... and I didnt deliberately do a damn thing...life happens.

I used to be a bar-room brawler and all-around general idiot, one of the reasons I quit drinking, now I can just be an all-around general idiot. But if it was my grandma or loved one injured by an unsafe product I would brawl for them - legally. I think you would too if it was your grandma. The freaking cup melted and there had been over 700 complaints of the SAME thing happening, they could of fixed it!

What's simply's not fair is that from lead paint in toys for tots, poison in food that USED to be safe, and a host of other harmful and unsafe products out there due to stripped down regulatory enforcement we're at the point where we don't even know what's in the s**t we buy anymore. Add to that that legal regress is now severely restricted, we're now basically blinded captives to any injury, including death, without due process. I know you don't square up with that.

I don't care if it's on the streets or on a shelf, you're only as good as your word. And as a businessman, I believe your product is the same as your word. And if it ain't worth s**t, you're just another scumbag.

maybe she didn't do something stupid, but I agree, come on that much, it wasn't the old lady's fault, it was the lawyer

Was NOT trying to operate a car, was NOT driving, her daughter was and they PULLED OVER and PARKED so she could do what we have all done millions of times before, without a stable surface. AND all she tried to do was get McBillions to pay the difference between her medicare costs to cover - SKIN GRAFTS - it was that f***ing serious a burn. It escalated into a law suit while the fattener of the nation dumped McMillions into discrediting her. It worked all too well.

"I'm not trying to disregard the fact that the lady got hurt and Mcdonald Corp tried to scuff her off with a couple Hundred, but common sense should have said to ANYONE, "Hot thing must put in cup holder" ...."

...OK.

"her daughter was ..."

I didn't know her daughter was Operating the Car.

"...do what we have all done millions of times before, without a stable surface..."

Idk about anybody else but i certainly do not put hot coffee in between my legs when trying to open the lid, the cup holder is obviously the best choice, specially in a " PULLED OVER and PARKED " Car.

I just saw that last week. Very good doc.

Clearly it was a dumb move, but the point was that the coffee never had any business being that hot and was, in fact, in violation of state regulations (if I recall correctly).

And I have seen prosecutors and cops lie in court. What is your point?

The point is I ALWAYS take my own notes or carry a digital recorder and tape any and all interactions I have, including my own lawyer. I then go home type it ALL up, put the tape or the hand written note with the new notes and put them all together in a binder. If I ever need the information, there it is, right where I need it, and I have needed it.
I had an AME doctor lie so badly about the appointments he had with me I forced him into a hard core deposition. Everything he said in his report was a lie, and because I took such careful notes, came home, wrote them up, and had them ready to rock, I knew I would nail his sleazy ass. And I did. TWICE.

That's what you do. If you can't video tape the cops, have a small digital recorder in your car at ALL TIMES. Don't think for one second things are going to get better soon. We have to protect ourselves from these assholes and I have and will continue to do so.

Always practice CYA.

I do the same thing. I nailed a health care rep lying when she tried to refuse me treatment for a torn acl. Now I am not able to purchase health insurance from that company. But I did get them to fix my acl and pay for all rehab. The health insurance companies are organized crime and I am sure they had something to do with how the coffee thing turned out.

I understand what "tort reform" is and I also understand what stupidity is. I also understand the concept of twisting facts around to make a case. If I was a judge, I would not have allowed her to collect anyhing over medical costs and I would not award those until she signed a paper stating that she would NEVER DRINK HOT COFFEE AGAIN or buy anything from any fast food place again.

I understand that the republiCONs want "tort reform" but I doubt that they know what that means. It is just another right that they want to strip from us. Funny how Ford got off easy on the tire recall even though the high center of gravity of the base design was the reason for the loss of control of those vehicles. Funny how they also got out of the exploding gas tanks on crown vics and the pinto, also.

We do not need "tort reform". We do need to emphasize that stupidity and lack of common sense is not a defense in product liability law suits.

By the way, if you ask, MCDONALDS WILL GIVE YOU A FREE CUP OF ICE and they have been doing that for decades.

Wake up and smell the coffee.

Prove that they sell 180 degree coffee.

They don't sell 180 degree coffee anymore since this incident. They lowered it to 170 degrees...wow. So what about the ice? You still have to take the lid off to put the ice in the cup.

180 degrees still isn't bad... That's just 5 degrees over maximum recommended serving temp (175 F)...

I can't believe some are purporting that raising the temp increases profits by making more coffee:

Step 1: Get Coffee
Step 2: Heat 5 degrees hotter than normal
Step 3: ??????
Step 4: Profit!

I'm pretty sure thermal expansion can't account for noticeably more coffee... It would make more sense to water it down...

In the movie, the woman's family was looking for McDonald's to only cover the costs of her medical bills and they offered her a pittance that wouldn't have covered a fraction of those costs. I'm sure after this happened she never set her foot back in a McDonald's let alone drink another cup of their coffee. The ONLY reason they went to court in the first place was because McDonald's would not even do the least to make it right. They are a multi-billion dollar corporation who figures they can just get their way. Republicans know exactly what tort reform means for them and their corporate overlords, punishing the public for trying to get rightful claims against negligent corporations satisfied. Their bread and butter.

But I am not inept.

Put yourself in their place for a moment. If you owned a store and someone bought a coffee from you and then returned complaining that you got burned from thier coffee, what would you do? Would you offer them a million dollars? I dont think so. I would offer them another coffee and then tell them not to come back here again. If they sued me, I would counter sue for "tort of outrage". Ever hear of that one? I will bet not.

As far as "not doing the least to make it right" why should they? She bought "hot coffee" and spilled it on herself. If she was a 2 year old, bought an ice cream from you and dropped it , I could see replacing it. If a 50 year old bought a cup of coffee, spilled it on themselves, where is the liability?

There is none. The only reason she got ANYTHING is because it was McDonalds and not some catering truck.

She should have STUPID tattooed on her forhead to forewarn the rest of us.

That is what Starbucks and all the other "coffee houses" brew their coffee at, 180 degrees. That's the best temp they say...

Thanks for the info, Dusty. Good thing I don't go to Starbucks. I think their coffee tastes bitter anyway.

But I thought that this morons attorney was an expert on coffee serving temps, not someone like "starbucks".

I think the old bat did it on purpose because she failed to save enough money for retirement.

Dont mow your lawn without adult supervision.

I'm with you hurleyburly.

Please dont watch "Dawn of the Dead". I dont want you traumatized for life.

Dont mow your lawn without adult supervision. Did that really offend you? I am bamboozeled by your gutlessness.

Please go back to sleep.

O.K. Translation please?

Sorry, nobby, you're wrong.

When a company heats their coffee over 140 degrees, they are putting you and everyone else at risk. Mrs. Liebeck was not the only victim of this make-our-coffee-the-hottest-on-earth marketing move by McDonald's.

What's more, she was made the butt of every late night comedy show joke. She had to have skin grafts on her genitals, for shitssake.

McDonald's was punished by a jury of people just like you because they had their chance to do the right thing and didn't.

Your lack of compassion is disturbing.

I was involved in a lawsuit against a cellphone chatting lady who rear-ended me and broke five of my ribs a short time after this incident. I mentioned the McDonald's case to my lawyer who informed me that what the media failed to pass on was the fact that McDonald's was able to extract more cups from coffee if the water was heated above the recommended level. They knew the practice was dangerous to the consumer but placed more emphasis on profits than on safety.

The lack of common sense in a lot of people is disturbing to me. McDonalds wasnt being sued because some talk show host made fun of someone who, even though they were offered a CARRIER for their coffee, was not smart enough to deduce the structural qualities of a fucking paper cup. I like my coffee hot so it lasts longer. I also usually ask for a FREE CUP OF ICE so I can cool it down if it is too FUCKING HOT. I suppose if someone ran their foot over with a lawn mower, that would also be the fault of the lawn mower manufacturer.

The lady is a MORON and should not be allowed to step foot on any fast food property.
I wouldnt have awarded her a penny. After all, it is advertised as HOT COFFEE.

I find that difficult to believe. Kindly explain the thermodynamics of this. I do not believe that a 20 degree temp change is going to make much difference in a carafe of coffee, but I may be wrong. I am sure that your attorney knows far more about that subject than I do.

Next time pay attention when you drive.

The temperature difference between a safe cup of coffee and what the poor old lady was served was more like 40 or 50 degrees.

How does paying attention when your driving prevent you from being rear ended by a cell phone user while your sitting still at a stop light? I've been driving for 53 years and never caused an accident.

I've been burned myself, most all fast food places have their coffee too hot. If she got burned that bad she deserves the money.

PUNITIVE DAMAGES, Buddha. That means that the JURY awarded the money to punish McDonalds. They were in the wrong. They had a chance to make things right and they didn't. So a JURY made of people just like you decided to bitch-slap an irresponsible group of people back to their senses.

Mrs. Liebeck never asked for millions. She asked for the difference between what her Medicare covered and what the SKIN GRAFTS ON HER GENITALS actually cost. Oh, the horror!

What a jury decides isn't what's right nor does it define what someone does is 'wrong', it's what we call 'justice'... There's a difference. The jury ruled wrong in my opinion, but this is pocket change to McDonald's... So... Lawl... Real punishment there. Now all I can get at McDonald's is colder coffee improperly served... Thanks to a dumb bitch who can't keep coffee off her self.

It doesn't matter how much she asked for, or that her vag shriveled up. She still spilled it on herself... How irresponsible... Someone should bitch-slap some sense into her

Thanks buddha. She settled out of court because she had no case. Stupidity is not a right.

I am all for culling the herd.

But are you sure she could correctly operate her genitals before HER mistake?

Finally, someone else with some sense other than Zoidberg up there Lol

Looks like you also upset the children.

You should learn the facts before you open your pie hole. McDonalds heated their coffee 40 degrees above scalding.Safety standards exist for just this reason. They ignored them for marketing purposes. They suffered the consequences.

First off I don't think you should be using the Buddha as part of your username, then, you need to consider that McDonald's KNEW they were extracting coffee at an unsafe temperature but their greed for more cups per pound outweighed there care for their customers. They got what they deserved.

I still think she's a moron. Basically, it's McDonald's fault for heating the coffee?? No, it's her fault for spilling the coffee... It would have caused 3rd degree burns even if it wasn't 40 degrees above 'scalding' even though the temperature they served it as IS the recommended temperature for coffee... Seriously look it up before you open your coffee hole.

She seriously must have just turned the cup upside down into her pants... she's friggin retarded...

First off, Buddha taught personal responsibility and not expecting anyone else to take care of you or your mistakes.

They were 5 degrees above recommended temperature... Big deal. That difference doesn't make it more or less likely to burn you, still causes third degree burns on naked skin... Even if it was 20 or 30 degrees...

From the Red Cross:

at 113 degrees you get a 3rd degree burn after 5 hours
at 116.6 degrees, after 45 minutes
at 118.4 degrees, after 20 minutes
at 120, after 10 minutes
at 124, after 4.2 minutes
at 131, after 30 seconds
and at 140, after 5 seconds.

So what, they're going to serve cold coffee? Lmao.

Cull the herd. Remove her genitals NOW! Please make sure that she is not allowed to pro-create without advanced instructions.

Now you know why ABORTIONS should be mandatory for some people.

Had that philosophy been used by bachmanns and palins parents we would not be subjected to them now.

bullshit.

bullshit.

Buddha also taught compassion for all living creatures. According to Tenzin Gyatso that is the essence of Buddhism.

I'd have more compassion if they weren't so stupid sometimes. Glad to see that's all you can respond with... Lmao.

Tenzin Gyatso is a hack anyway... Almost all buddhists are nowadays. I enjoy the story of Buddha, but I denounce it as any kind of faith... Hell even in Buddha's own words he did not want a religion... And since when was forcing a child into "Buddha-dom" compassionate? the LLamas are chosen at birth.. Makes NO fucking sense at all... Where's the freedom of choice that Buddha himself had?

I'm lucky if I get fresh coffee there
I do ice it down it still too hot and too old

How do you determine what someone "knew". Are you a swamie or something?

I think she did the whole thing on purpose to SUE FOR MILLIONS. Nobody can be that stupid.

Swamie [sic] (correct spelling swami) is a Hindu term, I am a Buddhist.

Sooo TRUE

I encourage everyone to watch it. If you think corporate control of America is bad, you ain't seen nuthin' until you see this movie.