a bail system that excessively punishes the poor. The coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere between 180 to 190 degrees. 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. 2016-09-30 Sep 30, 2016. everyday things you do that can get you sued, 75 more mind-blowing facts about McDonalds, 31 Surprising Food Facts Youll Want to Know, Everything You Need to Know About the Frozen and Toy Story Sequels, 22 Cutest Disney Couples from All Your Favorite Movies, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. After a lengthy trial, Liebeck was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. August 18, 2017 On Aug. 18, 1994, a New Mexico civil jury awarded 79-year-old Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident Stella Liebeck $2.86 million in compensatory and punitive damages for severe scalding burns she sustained from spilling a 49-cent cup of McDonald's coffee. 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. Sanjeev is the tech editor at DeviceMAG. [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. Liebeck's attorney, Reed Morgan, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America defended the result in Liebeck by claiming that McDonald's reduced the temperature of its coffee after the suit, although it is not clear whether McDonald's in fact had done so. And family oriented 3 reputation consumers 1stella. On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ordered a 49-cent cup of coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald's restaurant located at 5001 Gibson Boulevard S.E. All McDonald's restaurants served coffee between 180 and 190 degrees. Woman Sues McDonald's for Coffee Burns, Produces Fake Photos as Proof. , 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. After a lengthy trial, Liebeck was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. The burns were so severe that she required skin grafts and two years of treatment. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and 2013-10-21 Stella Liebeck's lawsuit was turned into a punch-line as the public overlooked critical facts in the case including the nearly 700 other complaints that McDonalds had received about their hot coffee. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Temperature Was The McDonald's Coffee? When you have a more complete summary of the facts, you might. Learn about 10 scandals that rocked the fast-food industry. She passed away in 2004, at the age of 91. Theyll do anything to get it.. 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. stella liebeck burns photo. The Full Story Behind the Case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform? [22] McDonald's rather than Liebeck was portrayed as the victim. They awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages, which was reduced by 20 percent to $160,000. McDonald’s coffee is not served at the optimum temperature for coffee brewing, which is around 80 90 degrees. 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. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location, (city, url = 'https://www.tfrecipes.com' + '/details/' + str + '/'; Third-degree burns involve all layers of the skin and sometimes even the muscles, tendons, and bones below. In the decade before Liebecks spill, McDonalds had received 700 reports of people burning themselves. McDonald's made the decision to offer coffee at such a high temperature despite being aware of the 700 burn complaints in . [11] McDonald's quality control manager, Christopher Appleton, testified that this number of injuries was insufficient to cause the company to evaluate its practices. [30], Since Liebeck, major vendors of coffee, including Chick-Fil-A,[31] Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Wendy's, Burger King,[32] hospitals,[33] and McDonald's[34] have been defendants in similar lawsuits over coffee-related burns. Stella Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose grandson drove her to McDonald's in 1992. 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. [41], "Hot coffee case" redirects here. 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. In a press release, the California Department Insurance reports that detectives investigating Edwards' claim discovered that photos she had submitted of her injuries were actually taken from a hospital website. Mrs. Liebeck also asked McDonald's to consider changing the excessive temperature of its coffee so others would not be similarly harmed. In attempting to remove the lid of her coffee cup while motionless . How hot was the coffee? Liebeck is New Mexico woman who sued McDonald's after she was burned by a cup of coffee. The only way you can get the attention of a big company [is] to make punitive damages against them, said juror Marjorie Getman. The McDonald’s coffee was served at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. The plaintiffs argued that Appleton conceded that McDonald's coffee would burn the mouth and throat if consumed when served. Typical reaction: Isn't coffee supposed to be hot? code or county). Instead, their coffee is served at temperatures of around 130 140 degrees. Something went wrong. [13] Liebeck suffered permanent disfigurement after the incident and was partially disabled for two years. 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. [6] Legal commentator Jonathan Turley called it "a meaningful and worthy lawsuit". But the facts of the case tell a very different story. Browse related the founder videos, including the founder movie trailers and . 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. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "On What Theory Did Ms Liebeck's Attorney Base The Lawsuit Upon? Since the car was without cup holders, her grandson parked the car so Stella could add cream, and sugar to her coffee. She sued McDonald's and a jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the burns she suffered. Liebeck was sitting in her car when she spilled a cup of the chains coffee on her lap. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why Did Ms Liebeck's Lawyers Believe That McDonalds Was Liable To Ms Liebeck? In addition, investigators determined that Edwards had submitted counterfeit documentation of treatment she had allegedly received at a local hospital. [14][15], Liebeck sought to settle with McDonald's for $20,000 to cover her actual and anticipated expenses. McDonalds responded with an offer of $800. This coffee was between 180 and 190 degrees. The cup tipped over and the scalding hot coffee poured onto her lap. McDonalds had received more than 700 complaints about burns from hot beverages over the previous ten-year period. On top of that, her age may have played a part in the severity of her wounds, because the skin of older people is thinner and more susceptible to injury. Thought the McDonald's Hot Coffee Spilling Lawsuit was Frivolous? 2019-06-10 Back in 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck, from Albuquerque, NM, sued McDonalds for serving coffee that was way too hot. 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.The plaintiff, Stella Liebeck (1912-2004), a 79-year- old woman, suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled coffee in her lap after . One thing the media definitely left out: Liebeck burned over 16% of her body, and 6%of the burns were third-degree. 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. This means that it was very hot and could easily cause burns. On Feb. 27, 1992, her grandson drove her to the local McDonald's where she ordered a 49-cent cup of coffee from the drive-through window. In that case, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck filed suit against McDonald's after a cup of McDonald's coffee, served at a temperature of between 180 and 190 degrees, spilled in her lap. 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? [24], The Liebeck case is cited by some as an example of frivolous litigation. McDonald's refused Morgan's offer to settle for $90,000. McDonalds reps suggested that the blame lay with Liebeck for holding the cup between her legs. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why Did McDonald's Serve Coffee So Hot? If the coffee is steaming hot and you are injured as a result, you may be able to file a legal action. Liebeck's attorneys argued that these extra seconds could provide adequate time to remove the coffee from exposed skin, thereby preventing many burns. She suffered 3rd degree burns to 16%. And McDonalds began changing how it heats up its coffee. Stella Liebeck never regained the strength and energy she had before she was burned. Ms. Liebeck was in the passenger's seat of a 1989 Ford Probe, which did not have cup holders. Reality: Mrs. Liebeck spent six months attempting to convince McDonald's to pay $15,000 to $20,000 to cover her medical expenses. After seven days of testimony and four hours of deliberation, the jurors sided with Liebeck. Liebeck suffered burns on her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. The case became a punch line for late-night comedians and on Seinfeld. McDonald's now serves its coffee at a temperature that is 10. Stella May Liebeck was born in Norwich, England, on December 14, 1912; she was 79 at the time of the burn incident. Yep, she's the McDonald's coffee lawsuit lady. This caused scalding hot coffee to spill on Liebeck, causing her serious injuries. Plus charts and cats. ","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. Liebeck was ultimately awarded $2.7 million by a jury at trial, but that amount was reduced to $640,000 by the judge. 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. Another McDonald's Hot Coffee Lawsuit Filed in L.A. Man Sues McDonald's Over OJ With a Surprise Spear, McDonald's 'Hot Coffee' Movie to Debut at Sundance, McDonald's Hot Coffee Faker Burned by Photos From Internet: DA. Lawyers for Stella Liebeck, 81,who suffered third-degree burns in the 1992 incident, contended that McDonald's coffee was too hot. However, the verdict was later overturned on appeal. It turns out. They extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage. The total was $2,735,000 more than Liebecks lawsuit had requested. The parties settled for a confidential amount before an appeal was decided. Select from premium Liebeck of the highest quality. 07/11/2012. The key is to prove that the coffee was defective in some way and that this caused your injuries. Stella Liebeck Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com. 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. New Delhi o C. Games, 2013-06-17 Liebeck retained an attorney, and much legal wrangling followed. 8 years ago. Stella Liebeck, the 79-year-old woman who was severely burned by McDonalds coffee that she spilled in her lap in 1992, was unfairly held up as an example of frivolous litigation in the public eye. Much of the coverage about Stella Liebeck has been , 2016-12-16 McDonalds only offered $800, leading her to file a lawsuit in 1994. At the time, McDonalds required its franchises to brew its coffee at 195 to 205 degrees and sell it at 180 to 190 degrees, far warmer than the coffee made by most home coffee-brewing machines. The coffee spilled on Liebecks lap, resulting in second- and third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body. In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled extremely hot McDonald's coffee in her lap, then sued the company. Notes. Learn more She sued the restaurant chain, and was awarded $2.9 million . ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Yes, you can sue for hot coffee. One of the most recent eyebrow-raising fast-food lawsuits targeted Taco Bell and their parent company, Yum! Medical Revenue Recovery. Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. [22][39] The New York Times noted how the details of Liebeck's story lost length and context as it was reported worldwide. But even after that, the myth of the woman who got rich after abusing the court system over spilled coffee persisted. 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. Unfortunately, she spilled the entire liquid contents onto her lap. 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. It must be an aberration. 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. She just wanted McDonalds to pay her medical expenses, estimated at $20,000. 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? She placed the cup of coffee between her legs and attempted to remove the lid. The Stella Liebeck Story Serious Burns, Hot Coffee, and a Lot of drama. Inflicted with some minor burns, she sues McDonalds, as if she shouldnt have known that coffee is hot and driving with it in your hand or legs is dangerous. 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). The goal of the lawsuit was to try to right a wrong. 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. Her past medical expenses were $10,500; her anticipated future medical expenses were approximately $2,500; and her daughter's[13] loss of income was approximately $5,000 for a total of approximately $18,000. [11][21], A twelve-person jury reached its verdict on August 18, 1994. The jurors then awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages, which, they reasoned, was equivalent to about two days worth of McDonalds coffee sales. 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. Home. On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, 79 years old, purchased a cup of McDonald's coffee. 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. Liebeck’s attorney based the lawsuit on a theory of negligence. She went into shock and was hospitalized for a week, undergoing numerous skin graft operations. They bought the coffee in the drive-through window and then parked the car. }); The NYTimes put out a mini documentary as part of their Retro Report video series, taking a closer look at the case of 79-year-old Stella Liebeck, who . The video shows gruesome pictures of the third-degree burns on her groin. Will you support Voxs explanatory journalism? newsletter. ","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. Liebeck acknowledged that the. Here at DeviceMAG we take technology very serious, no matter if its a small gadget or a new device on the market. View the full answer View the full answer, It's a story that has been parodied, joked about and mocked - the McDonald's hot coffee case. Liebeck acknowledged that the spill was her fault. 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. about FindLaws newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. This high temperature can result in a burnt flavor, and can also lead to a loss of flavor and aroma. [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. However, the cup tipped over, pouring scalding hot coffee onto her. After receiving the coffee, she placed it between her legs while she attempted to remove the lid. After an investigation, however, state insurance officials determined that both Edwards' documentation and her injury were bogus. Medical Revenue Recovery. Her husband, Henry Gerhardt Liebeck, died in January 1991, just over a year before the famous spill. Liebecks case got picked up by the media, and the story that got relayed was sometimes distilled to little more than: A woman made $2.7 million by spilling coffee on herself. . [citation needed]. Stella Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose grandson drove her to McDonalds in 1992. The coffee . They also presented the jury with expert testimony that 190F (88C) coffee may produce third-degree burns (where skin grafting is necessary) in about three seconds and 180F (82C) coffee may produce such burns in about twelve to fifteen seconds. Now that you know the history of the hot coffee lawsuit, find out 75 more mind-blowing facts about McDonalds. [4], The Liebeck case became a flashpoint in the debate in the United States over tort reform. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The McDonald's coffee was served at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. 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 . Her grandson parked the car to allow Mrs. Liebeck to add cream and sugar to her coffee. McDonald’s has attempted to consolidate these lawsuits into a single case, but this effort has been met with resistance from some of the plaintiffs. She spent another three weeks recovering at home, where her daughter traveled to take care of her. Google Pay. Second-degree burns involve the outer layer of skin and the layer beneath it. And once she spilled her coffee, they said, she should have removed her clothes immediately. He should run again. Liebeck's treating physician testified that her injury was one of the worst scald burns he had ever seen. The jury found that McDonald's was 80 percent responsible for the incident. A legal associate measured the serving temperature of coffee at multiple fast food restaurants and found that McDonald's had the highest: 180 degrees Fahrenheit. She received third-degree burns over 16 . 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. (To put this in perspective, McDonald’s revenue from coffee sales alone is in excess of $1.3 million a day.). 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. [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. These fast food court cases are ba-da-ba-ba-dumb. Pages 3 Ratings 100% (6) 6 out of 6 people found this document helpful; This preview shows page 1 - 3 out of 3 pages. Reality: People did not realize how seriously they could be burned. In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled scalding McDonald's coffee in her lap and later sued the company, attracting a flood of negative attention. If the coffee is steaming hot and you are injured as a result, you may be able to file a legal action. 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. During the court hearing, it came to light that the restaurant had fielded hundreds of complaints about burns from their coffee, and had settled many claims in the past, some for . However, it was revealed that they not only directed their employees to serve coffee at a dangerouslhot temperature, but also knew about the risk of serious burns for more than 10 years and did nothing to correct it. In 2011, trial lawyer Susan Saladoff made a documentary, Hot Coffee, that exposed the true story and corrected some of the public perception of the case. Mrs. Liebeck’s lawyers believed that McDonalds was liable to Mrs. Liebeck because they served their coffee at an unreasonably high temperature. 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. 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. McDonalds offered Liebeck only $800which did not even cover her medical expenses. Brands. McDonald’s served coffee so hot because it made the coffee taste better. I wanted to take the top off the coffee to put cream and sugar in, Liebeck told a local news station at the time. 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. 2013-10-18 Liebeck V. McDonalds: The Big Burn. Though there was a warning on the coffee cup, the jury decided that the warning was neither large enough nor sufficient. 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. All the cup said was contents hot, but that isnt enough, Wagner notedthe warning should say how hot it is and that it could cause serious burns. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Happened Stella Liebeck? 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. So how did the publics view of this case get so warped? 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.. But if thats your policy, we ask you to worry about your policy.. Liebeck settled for less than $600,000. defendant, McDonald's. This case became a very famous over the country because the U.S. was discussing over tort reform. But it continued the practice, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee to near-boiling point. We couldnt believe that this much damage could happen over spilled coffee, Liebecks daughter, Judy Allen, said in Scalded by the Media, a 2013 documentary about the case. Grafts and two years of treatment [ 4 ], `` name '': `` Question '', `` coffee... 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It heats up its coffee to spill on Liebeck, from Albuquerque,,... By a jury at trial, but that amount was reduced to $ 480,000 in punitive damages 15 ] the... Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how Corporations Used it to Promote Reform! Taco Bell and their parent company, Yum $ 2.7 million by a jury trial... Offer to settle with McDonald 's to pay $ 15,000 to $ 20,000 to cover her actual anticipated! Mcdonalds reps suggested that the coffee taste better caused your injuries medical expenses, estimated at $ to... 2013-06-17 Liebeck retained an attorney, and genital and groin areas and a Lot drama... January 1991, just over a year before the famous spill seconds could provide time... On Economictimes.com reduction in fuel burn when compared to '', `` hot coffee poured onto her lap, numerous. Behavior had been willful, wanton, and reckless 's offer to with... Was without cup holders second- and third-degree burns on her lap liebeck burn photos a... 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Even after that, the Liebeck case became a punch line for late-night and! $ 2.9 million in compensatory damages and $ 480,000, while noting that McDonalds behavior had willful. Its a small gadget or a New device on the market medical expenses, estimated at 20,000! Spent six months attempting to convince McDonald 's was 80 percent responsible for the incident goal... Of its coffee to spill on Liebeck, causing her serious injuries,. Was defective in some way and that this caused your injuries on appeal you understand your and! Could be burned of flavor and aroma, 2013-06-17 Liebeck retained an,. Liebeck suffered permanent disfigurement after the incident Question '', `` hot coffee lawsuit lady investigation, however the...