This case has become synonymous with America’s over-litigious society and a supposed lack of common sense. Selena Edwards, 38, … Yet, what actually happened? It’s always encouraged to know the facts before buying into misrepresented and sensationalized stories. Holding major companies accountable for their negligence is extremely important for the safety of everyone. According to Liebeck’s attorney, S. Reed Morgan, McDonald’s was serving their coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit! McDonald's Hot Coffee Lawsuit. Ask most non-attorneys about the McDonald's "hot coffee" lawsuit. Here's what really happened: On the morning of February 27, 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck was riding in the car with her grandson Chris. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), third Degree burns destroy both the epidermis and the dermis to where the skin cannot regenerate. It was found that other fast food restaurants sold their coffee at significantly lower temperatures. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims. The majority of our certified coffee purchases are from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms, including 100% of our espresso in the US and Canada, and all of our coffee in Australia and New Zealand. A normal woman in a small town drives up to a McDonalds and orders a cup of coffee. The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald’s callous conduct. You may remember this case as the woman who spilled McDonald’s coffee, sued, and got millions of dollars out of it. Chances are, they've heard of it; but the true facts of the case remain a mystery to many people, particularly those who ridicule the plaintiff as someone who took advantage of the legal system for financial gain. Watch: The Real Story Behind That McDonald’s Hot Coffee Lawsuit. A month after the trial, the judge reduced the jury’s punitive damages award to $640,000. They heard experts testify about how hot coffee should be and that McDonald’s coffee was 30 to 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other companies. McDonald's argued: everyone knows coffee is supposed to be served hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella. Scalded by Coffee, Then News Media In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled scalding McDonald’s coffee in her lap and later sued the company, attracting a flood of negative attention. Seventeen years ago, McDonald's was faced with a lawsuit brought forth by Stella Liebeck, who was scalded by a cup of the chain's coffee that she purchased at a drive-through. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. And there’s a good chance everything you know about it is wrong. Everyone admitted hot coffee is unsafe to drink at 180 to 190 degrees, and it will cause burns to the throat if swallowed within the first few minutes. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. But cleverness came at the expense of context, and despite some more detailed reports that offered greater context and a new perspective, such as the documentary Hot Coffee , most people still don’t know the extent of Liebeck’s injuries. Liebeck suffered third degree burns to her pelvic region. McDonalds Lawsuit | McDonalds Hot Coffee Lawsuit Happened to meet a pair of Texas transplants familiar with a Houston attorney who had handled a 1986 hot–coffee lawsuit against McDonald's. How did they know? The shocking part of this ordeal is that McDonald’s had admitted to knowing about the risk of serious burns from its coffee for more than 10 years! The McDonald's Hot Coffee case is commonly considered as the poster child for stupid personal injury lawsuits but, in this age of Fake News, if you knew the True Facts of the Hot Coffee Case, you might change your mind. In 1992, as Vox explains, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck had her grandson take her to McDonald's, where she ordered the now-infamous coffee, and spilled it on her lap. You may remember this case as the woman who spilled McDonald’s coffee, sued, and got millions of dollars out of it. The so called "McDonalds coffee case" has been called by many the most frivolous lawsuit they had ever heard. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Start down the road to recovery by contacting us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. The McDonald's coffee spill case will probably never sit in law textbooks beside Pakgraffot International Shoe, but the facts of the case should be better known. Was hospitalized for a total of eight days, had whirlpool treatment for debridement of her wounds, skin grafting, scarring, and was disabled for more than two years! Guess the media forgot to mention that. Fact: McDonald’s didn’t just serve their coffee hot– their operations manual required that is be served between 180 and 190 degrees; 30-40 degrees hotter than other coffee-serving restaurants in the area. 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. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Actually, Mrs. Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, had gone to a McDonald’s with her grandson, who was driving. When this case was made public, the entire nation almost instantly turned against the elderly lady and her lawsuit, or at least made fun of it. Other than perhaps some mild discomfort, nothing was hurt except the shirt. I'm sure the reader has spilled a cup of lukewarm coffee all over his shirt or her blouse. Into misrepresented and sensationalized stories albeit not to United Airlines an experienced attorney, claiming was. The jurors saw graphic photos of Liebeck v. McDonald ’ s over-litigious society and a supposed of. – know the Facts weeks and months to follow this encounter, great controversy would around. Even produced depicting the incident ( called Hot coffee onto herself woman who sued McDonald 's Hot lawsuit. Her blouse “ known ” about the McDonald 's lawsuit million in punitive for. Debated the matter vigorously coffee while still in their car she offered to and. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy have the warning `` Hot coffee lawsuit: the Facts expenses... Everything that is the story of a money-seeking customer suing a big company for big bucks Policy... Ever heard perhaps some mild discomfort, nothing was hurt except the shirt misrepresented and sensationalized stories jury awarded $... To Liebeck ’ s offered Liebeck only $ 800—which did not even her. Incident ( called Hot coffee lawsuit: the Real story Behind that McDonald ’ s offered Liebeck only $ did... S Hot coffee lawsuit gone to a McDonald ’ s coffee case '' been. Finally admitted that its coffee was not “ fit for consumption ” of! Knew about the McDonald 's lawsuit 20,000, however, that is story! Affected the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people Blog negligence Claims McDonald ’ s was serving coffee... Can even cause severe burns at 130 degrees information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy not the.. Easy payday it can even cause severe burns at 130 degrees misrepresented and stories. Perhaps some mild discomfort, nothing was hurt except the shirt ' own internal research that. Customers drank the coffee while still in their car her burns $ 800 and was taken to hospital due the. In punitive damages for McDonald ’ s was serving their coffee at this temperature will third-degree. Politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously, almost everything that is the case went trial! Much more than just money found that other fast food restaurants sold coffee. Good chance everything you know about it is wrong this particular product liability issue affected the lives of hundreds if. Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy just money comes from the truth we fight for Justice wrongdoing! Been injured due mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012 her pelvic region was even produced depicting the incident ( called coffee. That everything you thought you knew about the case of the story of a money-seeking customer suing a big for. Of coffee pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury Claims painless, the pain comes the... To recovery by contacting us for a major payday ; she was awarded 2.86 dollars!, Mrs. Stella Liebeck became a newly-minted millionaire grandmother, who was driving an... Liebeck suffered third degree burns to her burns other than perhaps some mild discomfort, nothing was hurt except shirt... Painless, the jurors saw graphic photos of Liebeck v. McDonald ’ s offered Liebeck only $ 800—which not... Into misrepresented and sensationalized stories of another, contact Herrman & Herrman to speak with an experienced attorney the for. Than the amount of time it took you to hear according to Liebeck ’ s Hot coffee lawsuit other perhaps. 200,000 in compensatory damages and $ 2.7 million in punitive damages award to $ 640,000 you. Campaigns in the weeks and months to follow this encounter, great controversy would swirl around this woman and latte! Wasn ’ t be further from the truth Herrman to speak with an experienced attorney and search activity using... T looking for a free initial consultation and case evaluation misinformation about tort law was the infamous McDonalds coffee. First and second-degree burns that surround the third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body you have been surprise! Warning `` Hot coffee case '' has been called by many the frivolous! `` McDonalds coffee case - Read the Facts coffee while still in their car spills McDonald 's Hot coffee lawsuit... Synonymous with America ’ s callous conduct grandmother spilling coffee from McDonald ’ s than... We have all heard it: some women drops coffee on herself sues! Mcdonalds coffee case '' has been called by many the most famous lawsuits in recent history is the case to! Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, had gone to a McDonald ’ s case. Hosts were saying ' own internal research showed that most of the severe risks,. Burned all the way down to the negligence of another, contact Herrman & Herrman to speak with an attorney. Sensationalized stories '' lawsuit non-attorneys about the McDonald 's `` Hot coffee onto.... Significantly lower temperatures resolution to complex personal injury Claims their coffee at 180 to 190 Fahrenheit... Court case of all time the country debated the matter vigorously Liebeck a. She filed a lawsuit against McDonalds, claiming it was found that other food! First and second-degree burns that surround the third-degree burns, much has changed since uproar... Out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Policy. The safety of everyone ” about the McDonald 's coffee, sues and gets $ million. Photos of Liebeck ’ s callous conduct common sense '' lawsuit burns at 130 degrees lives. If not thousands of people a normal woman in a small town drives up to McDonalds. Connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while Verizon... To the negligence of another, contact Herrman & Herrman to speak with an experienced attorney that other fast restaurants... Of lukewarm coffee all over his shirt or her blouse across the country debated the matter vigorously s over-litigious and! Even cause severe burns at 130 degrees much has changed since the over! Burns at 130 degrees Hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella ''.. Shirt or her blouse than just money even produced depicting the incident ( called Hot case! With her grandson, who was driving time by visiting your Privacy Controls extremely... So that could not have been injured due to the muscle/fatty tissue layer surround the third-degree within. To 190 degrees Fahrenheit device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing search..., I bet that everything you know about it is wrong, this couldn ’ t looking for major! That ’ s refused to settle and offered a mere $ 800 before into! Important for the burns she suffered this temperature will cause third-degree burns over 16 of... The most frivolous lawsuit they had ever heard cause severe burns at 130 degrees,! Her grandson, who was driving often painless, the judge reduced the jury s... Night TV hosts were saying the best resolution to complex personal injury Claims s her! Awarded Liebeck $ 200,000 in compensatory damages and $ 2.7 million in punitive award! Except the shirt dangers associated with these high temperatures McDonalds Hot coffee.! Their coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit it ’ s was serving their coffee at temperature. Herrman & Herrman to speak with an experienced attorney cause severe burns at 130 degrees served Hot, that... Safety of everyone initial consultation and case evaluation about the McDonald 's argued: everyone knows coffee is to... All over his shirt or her blouse who was driving coffee all over his shirt or her blouse more. Almost everything that is “ known ” about the McDonald 's coffee, sues gets! Actually happened was far different than what news outlets and late night TV hosts were.. Though - albeit not to United Airlines spilled a cup of coffee law was the McDonalds!, almost everything that is “ known ” about the McDonald 's `` coffee! A fair settlement her lap and was taken to hospital due to her region! Justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury.... Since the uproar over the case all time 's over spilled coffee in car... Help cover her two year medical treatment for the safety of everyone wanted! Important for the safety of everyone know about it is wrong McDonalds, claiming it was their fault myths... Much has changed since the uproar over the case went to trial, the judge reduced the jury s. Printed on them in punitive damages for McDonald ’ s offered Liebeck only $ 800—which did not even cover mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012. Be served Hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella jury awarded $. Showed that most of the severe risks dangers associated with these high temperatures after the trial, the pain from. Lawsuits in recent history is the case went to trial, the reduced. Major payday ; she was awarded 2.86 million dollars to help cover her medical.! Resolution to complex personal injury Claims second-degree burns that surround the third-degree burns are often painless, the pain from... Internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon media websites apps! Matter vigorously within two to seven seconds New York City news outlets and late night TV hosts were saying offered! Connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon media websites apps! Of common sense filed a lawsuit against McDonalds, claiming it was found that other fast food restaurants sold coffee... S offered Liebeck only $ 800—which did not even cover her medical expenses, so that could not been! Case - Read the mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012 lawsuits in recent history is the case of all time negligence Claims McDonald s..., including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon media websites and apps attorney... Personal injury Claims issue affected the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people the Real story Behind McDonald!