In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled a cup of hotter-than-normal coffee on herself. This coffee was acquired from McDonalds not too long prior, with the ensuing burns leading her to file a lawsuit two years later. The lawsuit resulted in Liebeck winning $2.86 million in punitive damages, with the amount making headlines across America. Many were shocked by the large sum, some even mocked at how easy it appeared to achieve. Regardless, this lawsuit has become significant in the social, legal, and political spheres. While some viewed the events with disdain, Liebeck and the Jury who were present had a different experience (Filip 44; Haltom 1; Lopez; Bertram). The infamous McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit, or Liebeck v. McDonald's, has been published in Mass. …show more content…
The absurdity of the lawsuit's award of $2.86 million, $160,000 in compensation, and $2.7 million in punitive damages, has been the main focal point of the scrutiny. The publicised story that was repeatedly shared to the public was that Stella Liebeck bought a cup of coffee from McDonalds, and in her car with coffee between her legs, decided to drive off, leading to spillage across her person. The spill resulted in minor burns, causing Liebeck to sue McDonalds for a hefty sum which she subsequently won on the grounds that the coffee was too hot (Filip 45; Bertram; Lopez). This story has been used by talk-show hosts, late-night comedians, sitcom writers and politicians for various reasons, from laughs to using it as the reasoning behind Lawyers screening jurors (Stout). The media has highlighted Liebeck's supposed negligence, and her lawsuit in response to it (Lopez). Buying a cup of coffee, which is widely accepted as a hot drink, placing it between her legs and then driving off leading to the spill; the numerous news stories and even a Seinfeld parody had cemented her in a negative light (Lopez; Filip 45). However, the widespread story of Liebeck has been distorted, and
I agree with the decision in the Stella Liebeck v. McDonalds Restaurants. Testimony in the case proved McDonald’s was blatantly negligent regarding the temperature their coffee. Key negligence facts in the case; • “McDonald's Operations Manual required the franchisee to hold its coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit; Coffee at that temperature, if spilled, causes third-degree burns (the worst kind of burn) in three to seven seconds. • Third-degree burns do not heal without skin grafting, debridement
The Hot Coffee case, which involves Stella Liebeck and McDonald's, has become important in discussions surrounding tort reform and the American legal system. Liebeck's lawsuit, which resulted in a multi-million-dollar verdict, has caused debates about the fairness of punitive damages, the role of the government in limiting compensation, and the broader implications for civil justice. In the big picture, it is not okay for people to take advantage of the system so that they can benefit from the compensation
In 1994, the trial of Liebeck v. Mcdonald's P.T.S., Inc., (No. D-202 CV-93-02419, 1995 WL 360309), 79 year old New Mexico woman named Stella Liebeck sues Mcdonald's, Inc after suffering from multiple third degree burns. The injuries that Liebeck indure was an self-inflicted by spilling a cup hot Mcdonald's coffee that was obviously too hot if cause third degree burns. The issue of this case is whether or not Mcdonald's showed any negligence and if so, did it lead to the unfortunate event of Liebeck
Most people will not recognize the name Stella Liebeck but say the words “hot coffee lawsuit” and recognition will be instant. The story is almost so well known that it has almost passed into the realm of urban legend or myth. And in the broad strokes it has become a bit of a myth. An old woman drives through a McDonald’s drive through, orders a cup of coffee and then promptly and recklessly spills the beverage all over her legs. Then in search of an easy payday she sues the restaurant for millions
Do you remember the lawsuit about the woman who ordered the McDonald’s coffee and spilled it in her lap and sued McDonald’s because it did not have a warning label on it? What about the woman who fell in the fountain at the mall while texting and wants to sue the mall? These lawsuits may seem fairly farfetched. They fall into the category called frivolous. Black’s Law Dictionary defines frivolous as lacking a legal basis or legal merit; not serious; not reasonably purposeful (Garner, 2006). When
may also be defined as any lawsuit in which the plaintiff knows that there is little or no chance of the lawsuit succeeding if pursued in court.” Frivolous lawsuit can win many individuals lots of money, as well as moments of embarrassment. In the United States, many of our countries citizens are looking for ways to get rich quick. Making Frivolous allegations against companies and organizations can cost high amount in lawyer fees and time. In some cases, a frivolous lawsuit could cost an owner of a
A. Compare and contrast the “Hot Coffee” and “Throwed Rolls” cases in 200-250 words. Try to go beyond the basic and cite examples of both similarities and differences you identify that relate to the concepts we have learned in class. (25 points) The “Hot Coffee” and “Throwed Rolls” cases are both similar in the aspect civil rights, which are the rights of individuals to receive equal treatment. However, it appeared that Stella Liebeck was discriminated against since she was an older woman and it
The case Hot Coffee is an interesting case that took place in a sensitive point in recent judicial tort reform. It was a product liability lawsuit which took place in 1994, a New Mexico jury awarded $2.86 million to the plaintiff Stella Liebeck. She was a 79-year-old woman who had 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. Liebeck was hospitalized for eight days while she underwent skin grafting
slime falling into a cardboard box started to circulate on the Internet. Allegedly, the pink slime was supposed to be the filling on McDonald's best-selling Chicken McNuggets. Despite various announcements that the picture had nothing to do with McDonald's, this myth only gained traction during the next four years. It was finally dispelled in 2014, when McDonald's released a video that showed the whole process of preparing their ultra-popular nuggets. Unsurprisingly, the pink slime was nowhere to
A frivolous lawsuit is a lawsuit that is filed by a party or attorney who is aware they are without merit, because of a lack of supporting legal argument or factual basis for the claims (Legal). Sometimes, this lawsuit is pointed at an entire organization because of an injury or problem caused by something they provide to consumers. Sometimes, they actually win. A number of economic resources that go into these lawsuits, being time and money, is outrageous (Post). There is a multitude of other possibilities
the chain food restaurant McDonald in 1992 when this old lady received an extensive burn from coffee supplied by McDonald. Differentiating its coffee with an excessively high hotness, Stella Liebeck bought a cup of this coffee and it was served why she was sitting in the passenger’s seat of her grandson’s car. It resulted into litigation because when this lady tried to add cream and sugar into the coffee, it spilled on her, and with it extremely hot temperature, Stella Liebeck suffered tremendous
than $30 million in defense and damage fees which was enough to take the company under ad declare bankruptcy after more than 50 years of business ("The Last Week ", 2016). The extremely popular American fast food McDonald’s was required to pay an outstanding amount of money over a hot coffee incident ("Litigious America",
carelessness. Hot drinks, for example, tea, hot chocolate, and coffee are regularly served at temperatures between 160 degrees Fahrenheit and 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Brief exposures to fluids in this temperature range can cause noteworthy burns to the skin. I personally say that McDonald's did not demonstrate a duty of care towards Stacy Liebeck. Liebeck's vehicle was stopped, she was adding sugar and cream to the coffee, and coffee that is served to clients should be sufficiently hot that it tastes
water. CSR is vital in corporate. For instance, a non-ethical company using poisoned water recourse to make the drinks, and they try to cover it up instead of use other recourse because it will cost them more money. Then, it has end up with some lawsuits and banded for sales. In order to be success in the businesses, it must meet the expectations from the society. How do management ethics relate to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? The management¡¯s core ethical values and standards should
Mac with 540 calories (Fitzpatrick). Only seven items on the McMenu contain no sugar - fries, sausage, coffee, Chicken McNuggets, hash browns, Diet Coke, and iced tea (Super Size ... ... middle of paper ... ...l>. Eustice, Carol. "What Is Hyperuricemia?" About.com Arthritis & Joint Conditions. N.p., 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. . Fitzpatrick, Jason. "Five Unhealthiest Foods at McDonald's." Lifehacker. N.p., 8 June 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. . Hoffman, Ronald. "Gallbladder Disease." Gallbladder