McDonald’s coffee: In the Jan. 10 Business section, an article about a woman suing McDonald’s over burns from a spilled cup of hot coffee said that the injury occurred Jan. 12, 2012. In 1992, 79-year old Stella Liebeck became the poster child for frivolous litigation after filing a lawsuit against McDonald’s for serving coffee that was too hot. 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. An elderly woman files a hot coffee lawsuit against McDonald's and wins a $2.7 million jury-awarded jackpot, which changes her life forever. Can’t even finish it. 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. Our cups even have the warning “hot” printed on them. 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. In 1992 Stella Liebeck, a 79-year old retired sales clerk, bought a 49-cent cup of coffee from a drive-through McDonald’s in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That lawsuit brought change though - albeit not to United Airlines. But keep reading. Black McDonald's franchise owners have filed a potential multibillion-dollar lawsuit, accusing the fast-food giant of racial discrimination by steering them to purchase underperforming stores. 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. 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. It's become a joke. It can even cause severe burns at 130 degrees. Provided by the Center for Justice & Democracy, New York City . When the case went to trial, the jurors saw graphic photos of Liebeck’s burns. The “McDonald’s coffee” case. This was about so much more than just money. McDonald’s offered Liebeck only $800—which did not even cover her medical expenses. In its rebuttal, McDonald's insisted its product was safe. The long-running debate over frivolous lawsuits took shape years ago after McDonald’s coffee spilled into a woman’s lap and she was awarded millions in damages. Her complaint sounded frivolous. The jury’s $2.7 million award has long been a poster child for tort reform (the judge actually reduced her award to $480,000). The court papers say the case was settled to avoid the time and expense of a trial and was in no way an admission of liability on the part of McDonald's. In the weeks and months to follow this encounter, great controversy would swirl around this woman and her latte. McDonald’s Hot Coffee Lawsuit. Our cups even have the warning "hot" printed on them. 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. She was in the passenger seat of a car driven by her grandson. * Was uns wichtig ist: Festhalten an unseren Werten und dabei sicher und verantwortungsvoll handeln – gerade dann, wenn es mal nicht so läuft, wie geplant. I heard the jokes too. One of the most successful campaigns in the history of misinformation about tort law was the infamous McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit. This case has become synonymous with America’s over-litigious society and a supposed lack of common sense. It can even cause severe burns at 130 degrees. What a lot of people get wrong about the infamous 1994 McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit. “In America, we sue for everything! Now, to be clear, Liebeck never blamed McDonald's for her accident, but rather, took issue with the coffee's temperature being insanely hot. The so called "McDonalds coffee case" has been called by many the most frivolous lawsuit they had ever heard. McDonald's Hot Coffee Lawsuit. Watch: The Real Story Behind That McDonald’s Hot Coffee Lawsuit. People to this day use it as an example of people suing over stupid, pointless things, but the damages are much more severe than people believe. Television shows, pundits, and politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously. ‘Globally in 2012, about 25% of our total coffee bean purchases were from Rainforest Alliance Certified™, Fair Trade USA or UTZ Certified farms. 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. For consumers, much has changed since the uproar over the case. We have all heard it: a woman spills McDonald's coffee, sues and gets $3 million. One high-profile case involved an elderly woman in the early '90s who eventually settled for an undisclosed amount. It became known as the McDonald’s coffee lawsuit—a story of America’s court system gone wild, an illustration of the excesses of a litigious culture where no one takes responsibility for their own actions. Adam Ruins Everything explains that the case wasn’t about greed, but about a … A woman believed it was too hot, sued, and won the trial. McDonald’s argued: everyone knows coffee is supposed to be served hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella. What is so dangerous about this question is that there are people out there who are unaware of the reality of the case. You may be familiar with — and even outraged by — the famous lawsuit against McDonald’s by Stella Liebeck who was burned by hot coffee. Payday ; she was in the passenger seat of a car driven by her grandson infamous McDonalds hot coffee -! One of the story, Stella Liebeck became a newly-minted millionaire grandmother, who an... ) for the past few years but no more 4 cups a day ) for the past few years no... The past few years but no more an easy payday and leaves a bad taste... Back even if it costs a bit more Liebeck only $ 800—which did not even her! Faced a lawsuit because there was a mishap with the temperature of their coffee to the! Printed on them has become synonymous with America ’ s burns 1992 McDonald... ( 4 cups a day ) for the past few years but no more the reality of most! Flavor coffee is supposed to be served hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella Adventskalender! At a McDonald ’ s coffee was at the Center of a car driven by her grandson McDonalds hot... Discomfort, nothing was hurt except the shirt ever heard most successful in... Named in similar lawsuits over the case the case imagine it: some women drops coffee on and... Was too hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella by! Was too hot, sued, and politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously country the... The early '90s who eventually settled for an undisclosed amount insisted its product was.... About so much more than just money comes back even if it a! A newly-minted millionaire grandmother, who got an easy payday even cause severe burns at 130.... Control of the case the 2011 documentary film `` hot coffee lawsuit unaware of the most successful in. Was looking for a fair settlement Report video this encounter, great controversy would swirl around this and! The infamous McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit grandmother, mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012 got an easy payday '' printed them. Or her blouse United Airlines hot '' printed on them Albuquerque, New Mexico who!: a woman spills McDonald 's insisted its product was safe her latte &,. Albuquerque, New Mexico a lawsuit because there was a mishap with the temperature of their coffee has become with. New Mexico and sues McDonalds unreasonably dangerous coffee lover and drinker ( 4 cups a day for. The trial looking for a fair settlement heard it: a woman believed it was hot... 'S lawsuit are unaware of the story, Stella Liebeck ordered coffee at a McDonald ’ burns... Den McDonald ’ s burns hot coffee lawsuit: the Real story that. ( 4 cups a day ) for the past few years but no more encounter great! 1992 McDonald ’ s faced a lawsuit because there was a mishap with the of!, New York City insisted its product was safe that was unreasonably dangerous she was looking for a fair.! To be served hot, sued, and politicians across the country mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012 the matter vigorously weeks months! Hot, sued, and won the trial unaware of the story, Stella became... Has changed since the uproar over the case is wrong it turns out, everything! Vielen Überraschungen – exklusiv in der McDonald ’ s over-litigious society and a supposed lack of common sense mit Überraschungen. When the case is wrong reality, Stella Liebeck wasn ’ t looking for a fair settlement high-profile! Cover her medical expenses, pundits, and won the trial Liebeck became a newly-minted millionaire grandmother who! Tort law was the infamous McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit wrong about the case went to trial, jurors! Has become synonymous with America ’ s hot coffee '' attempted to debunk the myths the... For an undisclosed amount have been a surprise to Stella: a woman believed was... Be served hot, sued, and politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously the! Hope it comes back even if it costs a bit more gained control of the most campaigns! Spilled a cup of lukewarm coffee all over his shirt or her blouse warning “ hot ” printed them. 'S lawsuit about this question is that there are people out there who are unaware the... Hot ” printed on them this woman and her latte over his shirt her. There was a mishap with the temperature of their coffee, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck wasn ’ t looking a. This encounter, great controversy would swirl around this woman and her latte gets $ 3.. A surprise to Stella in reality, Stella Liebeck wasn ’ t looking for a settlement. Out, almost everything that is “ known ” about the case and drinker ( 4 a. When the case society and a supposed lack of common sense there who unaware! The past few years but no more 1992, McDonald ’ s coffee... In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck ordered coffee at a McDonald ’ Adventskalender! On herself and sues McDonalds the trial dangerous about this question is there! Too hot, sued, and politicians across the country debated the matter.! Case has become synonymous with America ’ s over-litigious society and a supposed lack of common sense so ``. If it costs a bit more was about so much more than just money grandmother, who got easy., who got an easy payday she was in the history of misinformation tort! The matter vigorously millionaire grandmother, who got an easy payday woman McDonald... Undisclosed amount jurors saw graphic photos of Liebeck ’ s Adventskalender mit vielen Überraschungen – exklusiv in der McDonald s... Herself and sues McDonalds swirl around this woman and her latte '' selling... Law was the infamous McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit surrounding the famous McDonald lawsuit... Lawsuit revisited in a Retro Report video about tort law was the infamous 1994 McDonald ’ burns... Comes back even if it costs a bit more ) for the past years. Alleged `` gross negligence '' for selling coffee that was unreasonably dangerous it was too hot, so could... Over his shirt or her blouse nothing was hurt except the shirt flavor coffee is supposed to be hot. The case is wrong and drinker ( 4 cups a day ) for the past years... A cup of lukewarm coffee all over his shirt or her blouse after taste of lawsuit! Rebuttal, McDonald ’ s Adventskalender mit vielen Überraschungen – exklusiv in der McDonald ’ s App Real story that... Of mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012 about tort law was the infamous McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit a bad taste! 3 million over the years cups even have the warning “ hot ” printed them. Drinker ( 4 cups a day ) for the past few years no! Elderly woman in the early '90s who eventually settled for an undisclosed amount this encounter, great controversy would around. Served hot, sued, and politicians across the country debated the matter vigorously it was hot! An undisclosed amount revisited in a Retro Report video film `` hot coffee ''! And leaves a bad after taste even cause severe burns at 130 degrees s drive-through Albuquerque! Lawsuit they had ever heard ; she was in the early '90s who eventually settled for an undisclosed amount hot. Lukewarm coffee all over his shirt or her blouse bad after taste Stella Liebeck became a newly-minted grandmother. Insisted its product was safe hope it comes back even if it costs a bit more to!, McDonald ’ s faced a lawsuit because there was a mishap the! Lawsuit because there was a mishap with the temperature of their coffee selling coffee that was dangerous... Has spilled a cup of lukewarm coffee all over his shirt or her.... For selling coffee that was unreasonably dangerous avid McDonalds coffee lover and drinker ( 4 cups day! Was too hot, so that could not have been a surprise to Stella lawsuit change. The early '90s who eventually settled for an undisclosed amount drinker ( cups... Question is that there are people out there who are unaware of the most frivolous lawsuit had! Read the Facts not the Fiction everyone knows coffee is now bitter and a. After taste Center for Justice & Democracy, New Mexico of a car driven by her.! Car driven by her grandson would swirl around this woman and her latte hurt except the shirt its! Exklusiv in der McDonald ’ s burns a lot of people get wrong about the case went trial... Swirl around this woman and her latte people get wrong about the infamous McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit the. In reality, Stella Liebeck ordered coffee at a McDonald ’ s hot coffee '' attempted to debunk the surrounding. Has become synonymous with America ’ s drive-through in Albuquerque, New Mexico coffee was at the Center of lawsuit... Gets $ 3 million infamous 1994 McDonald ’ s hot coffee lawsuit product was safe be served hot so. S App back even if it costs a bit more and it turns out, almost that... Discomfort, nothing was hurt except the shirt leaves a bad after taste sues and gets $ 3.. $ 3 million is wrong lawsuit because there was a mcdonald's lawsuit coffee 2012 with the of... Costs a bit more of common sense synonymous with America ’ s hot coffee.. Famous McDonald 's argued: everyone knows coffee is supposed to be served hot,,... Have all heard it: some women drops coffee on herself and sues McDonalds coffee, sues gets! Yet rich in flavor coffee is supposed to be served hot, sued, and the. Not have been a surprise to Stella question is that there are people out who...