Liebeck went to her car at the restaurant's parking to prepare the coffee and drink. After the car stopped, she tried to hold the cup securely between her knees while removing the lid. 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. How the infamous mcdonald's hot coffee lawsuit (liebeck v. Big business uses the mcdonald's coffee case to . This is 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the coffee served at most other restaurants. The total for the two boxes was $12.18, before tax, to . Though there was a warning on the coffee cup, the jury decided that the warning was neither large enough nor sufficient. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. [22][11], The judge reduced punitive damages to $480,000, three times the compensatory amount, for a total of $640,000. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Liebeck's attorney based the lawsuit on a theory of negligence. In this case, the restaurant was negligent in heating the coffee to such a high temperature. This coffee was between 180 and 190 degrees. McDonalds staunchly refused to settle despite multiple attempts to mediate the case before trial. What drives us into doing what we do? Liebeck was sitting in her car when she spilled a cup of the chains coffee on her lap. Im a nurse, and I was horrified by the type of injuries that she had sustained, said Liebecks daughter-in-law, Barbara Liebeck. stella liebeck. Nevertheless, I think the initial award certainly got everybodys attention, not necessarily in a favorable way, said Farnham. 2021-11-17 Stella liebeck of albuquerque, new mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson's car when she was severely burned . The burns were so severe that she required skin grafts and two years of treatment. According to a beverage resource manual, the standard temperature for hot Starbucks drinks is between 150 and 170 degrees. $.ajax({ 15 Facts About The Smartest Fortnite Players, ITunes Account Login Troubleshooting Guide, The Office Depot Return Policy in a Nutshell, My Block Account: Everything You Need to Know, Mindspring Email All You Need To Know About It, Genshin Impact Breaking The Final Seal Explained. [35], Two years prior to Liebeck, a similar lawsuit was settled during the trial for $15 million due to injuries from a sink in a rented apartment. If youre not as lucky, you will get third-degree or full-thickness burns requiring skin grafting and surgery. Jurors were given a graphic example of what he was talking about when they were shown photos of Liebecks burned groin and skin grafts. How the Great Recession paved the way for influencers to inherit the earth. He has a passion for quality-focused journalism and believes in using technology to make people's lives better. When you read, Woman Coffee Millions it sounds like a rip-off, John Llewellyn, a professor of communication at Wake Forest University, said. Andy Simmons is a features editor at Reader's Digest. [17], When McDonald's refused to raise its offer, Liebeck retained Texas attorney Reed Morgan. Their point seemed to turn off jurors. Reader support helps us keep our explainers free for all. 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. 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 as much as $500,000. 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. Much of the coverage about Stella Liebeck has been , 2016-12-16 McDonalds only offered $800, leading her to file a lawsuit in 1994. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages -- reduced to $160,000 because the jury found her 20 percent at fault -- and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald's callous conduct. November 28, 2021 by . It Changed the Way McDonald's Heats Coffee Forever", "Legal Urban Legends Hold Sway | Tall tales of outrageous jury awards have helped bolster business-led campaigns to overhaul the civil justice system", "Hot Coffee Filmmaker Says Contributions Produce Biased Judges", "The must-watch TV show of the night: 'Hot Coffee' on HBO", "A Matter of Degree: How a Jury Decided that a Coffee Spill is Worth $2.9 Million", "The McDonald's Coffee Cup Case: Separating McFacts From McFiction", "Urban legends and Stella Liebeck and the McDonald's coffee case", "Angelina and Jack McMahon, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, James River Paper Company, and Wincup Holdings, L.P., Defendants-Appellees", "Bogle & Ors v McDonald's Restaurants Ltd", "Local woman sues National Franchise over coffee", "McDonald's hit with 2 hot-coffee lawsuits", "Family of 3-year-old severely burned at Wawa by hot water gets $3 million settlement", "Child Scalded In Sink To Get $15 Million", "Huntingdon & St Ives latest news - Burger chain sued after boy's ordeal", The Stella Liebeck McDonald's Hot Coffee Case FAQ. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20" }).render("6ea159e3e44940909b49c98e320201e2"); }); When Liebecks medical bills topped $10,000, she contacted McDonalds and asked to be reimbursed. Liebeck's attorneys argued that coffee should never be served hotter than 140F (60C), and that a number of other establishments served coffee at a substantially lower temperature than McDonald's. Plus, it . Photos; Magazine; Newsletters; A blog of my opinions. The coffee spilled and caused third-degree burns in her pelvic region. She passed away in 2004, at the age of 91. "I was in terrible pain." She went into shock, and her grandson rushed her to the emergency room, where she underwent surgery and received skin grafts. The Stella Liebeck Story Serious Burns, Hot Coffee, and a Lot of drama. The coffee had burnt her skin in seconds. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "To prove negligence, Stella Liebeck had to show that McDonald's had a duty to her, that they breached that duty, and that the breach was the direct and proximate cause of her injuries. Most home coffee makers produce coffee that is between 135 and 150 degrees, he added. Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. And family oriented 3 reputation consumers 1stella. 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. 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. They awarded her $200,000 in compensatory damages. The goal of the lawsuit was to try to right a wrong. In 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79 year old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, sued McDonald's after she sustained third-degree burns on her thighs, buttocks, and groin when she accidentally. Home. Liebeck suffered burns on her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. McDonalds admitted that its coffee was a hazard at such high temperatures. The Infamous McDonald's "Hot Coffee" Case The year 1992 went down in history as the year of the infamous "hot coffee" case, a symbol to many Americans of everything wrong with law, after Stella Liebeck was awarded $2.7 millionlater reduced to less than $500,000for her burn injuries. asking for $20,000 but McDonald's declined that settlement. It's a case practically every American citizen knows about and likely speaks about 2016-03-24 The pictures of her burned thighs are, in a word, horrific. On a lighter note than the hot coffee lawsuit, read about the funniest court cases of all time. [19], McDonald's claimed that the reason for serving such hot coffee in its drive-through windows was that those who purchased the coffee typically were commuters who wanted to drive a distance with the coffee; the high initial temperature would keep the coffee hot during the trip. However, the cup tipped over, pouring scalding hot coffee onto her. As Scalded by the Media showed, although the original Albuquerque Journal article about the trial ran at 700 words, subsequent pickup and wire-service articles were far shorter and left out important details. [7] Ex-attorney Susan Saladoff sees the portrayal in the media as purposeful misrepresentation due to political and corporate influence. McDonalds apparently knew that this was unsafe. url = 'https://www.tfrecipes.com' + '/details/' + str + '/'; 2019-09-25 The coffee spilled on Liebecks lap, resulting in second- and third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body. McDonald's refused Morgan's offer to settle for $90,000. The coffee spilled on Liebecks lap, resulting in second- and third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body. 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. I was in it because I want them to bring the temperature down so that other people wouldnt go through the same thing I did.. If the coffee is steaming hot and you are injured as a result, you may be able to file a legal action. The key is to prove that the coffee was defective in some way and that this caused your injuries. 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. Through the telling and retelling of the infamous tale, the gist became that 79-year-old Stella Liebeck got burnt by some hot coffee from the fast-food restaurant and sued them. Liebeck endured third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body, including her inner thighs and genitalsthe skin was burned away to the layers of muscle and fatty tissue. We recommend our users to update the browser. The case went to trial in 2005, but was ultimately dismissed. A large portion of the film covered Liebeck's lawsuit. ","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. 38-year-old Selena Edwards of Victorville, California had claimed that an unsecured lid on a cup of coffee she ordered in a McDonald's drive-through had caused serious burns to her hand, reports the Los Angeles Times. The case went to trial in 2005, but was ultimately dismissed. My Mac Wont Download Anything How To Fix. Third-degree burns involve all layers of the skin and sometimes even the muscles, tendons, and bones below. 4.24M subscribers 39K 5M views 9 years ago In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled scalding McDonald's coffee in her lap and later sued the company, attracting a flood of negative attention. According to news accounts, this amount was less than $500,000. about FindLaws newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. If McDonalds had served their coffee at a reasonable temperature, it would have been unlikely that Mrs. Liebeck’s injuries would’ve been so severe. "All I remember is trying to get out of the car," Liebeck later explained. The decision was appealed by both McDonald's and Liebeck in December 1994, but the parties settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. After receiving the coffee, she placed it between her legs while she attempted to remove the lid. Please consider making a one-time contribution to Vox today. We knew, before the lawsuit was filed, that the temperature of the water was 190 degrees or so, and the franchise documents required that of the franchisee, said Kenneth Wagner, an Albuquerque lawyer who represented Liebeck. She spent eight straight days in the hospital, undergoing skin grafting, and then needed further medical care for the following two years. Liebeck's family originally asked McDonald's to cover the woman's out-of-pocket expenses of $2,000 plus lost wages for her daughter, but the company offered only $800. McDonald's Restaurants, better known as the McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit of 1994. With a passion for everything that gets geeks high were here to feed you with the latest news. 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 . 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. [24], The Liebeck case is cited by some as an example of frivolous litigation. Retro Report. The company knew its coffee was causing serious burns, but it decided that, with billions of cups served annually, this number of burns was not significant. Its treated as a classic example of judicial overreach and greed: A woman, driving in her car while holding McDonalds coffee between her legs, spills some of the coffee on herself. But it continued the practice, enforced by official McDonalds policy, of heating up its coffee to near-boiling point. It was cited by some as an example of frivolous litigation;[5] ABC News called the case "the poster child of excessive lawsuits",[6] while the legal scholar Jonathan Turley argued that the claim was "a meaningful and worthy lawsuit". Dec. 10, 2020 - Robert Liebeck, Samueli School distinguished adjunct professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and faculty adviser for the UC Irvine Design/Build/Fly team, announced his retirement last month from his position as senior fellow at the Boeing Co., capping a long and distinguished career at the aircraft manufacturer.. An expert in hydrodynamics who designed high-lift . I am just astounded at how many people are aware of this case and how many people have a distorted view of the case, said daughter Judy Allen. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why Did Ms Liebeck's Lawyers Believe That McDonalds Was Liable To Ms Liebeck? Consumer advocates say the distorted narrative picked up speed because business interests and some lawmakers used it as a way to create a public belief that frivolous lawsuits were common and that jury verdicts were running amok, all in an effort to advance a tort reform agenda that limits consumers ability to hold wrongdoers accountable. Liebeck endured third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body, including her inner thighs and genitalsthe skin was burned away to the layers of muscle and fatty tissue. The McDonald’s coffee was served at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Liebeck's thighs sustained third-degree burns so severe she required skin grafts. McDonald's current policy is to serve coffee at 176194F (8090C),[37] relying on more sternly worded warnings on cups made of rigid foam to avoid future liability, though it continues to face lawsuits over hot coffee. Google Pay. 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, ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere between 180 to 190 degrees. The Full Story Behind the Case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform? They heard experts testify about how hot coffee should be and that McDonalds coffee was 30 to 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other companies. He should run again. She was hospitalized for eight days. Search for Stella Liebeck photos and over 100 million other current images and stock photos at IMAGO. The pictures of the burns are rather gruesome, so I've not imbedded them into this post; however, if you would like to see images of the burns to Ms. Liebeck's legs and groin area, these can be seen at the following links: Stella Lieback's burns link 1 , Stella Lieback's burns link 2 . 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. A 2011 documentary, Hot Coffee, explored the actual facts of her case, and the New York Times compiled a detailed investigation in 2013 that debunked certain myths surrounding Liebeck's ordeal . A BWB plane would burn about 20 percent less fuel than conventional planes, and because its engines mount high on the back of the aircraft, it would be an estimated 50 decibels quieter. (To put this in perspective, McDonald's revenue from coffee sales alone is in excess of $1.3 million a day. , 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. 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. Also in both cases the impending . This site is protected by These fast food court cases are ba-da-ba-ba-dumb. [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. She was initially willing to settle for a payment of her medical bills and lost wages, only moving ahead with a more punitive civil case when the McDonald's corporation offered compensation of a mere $100, according to Consumer Attorneys Of California (CAOC). Other restaurants served coffee at 160 degrees, which takes twenty seconds to cause third degree burns. Liebeck sought to settle with McDonald's for $20,000 to cover her medical expenses. They extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage. According to her daughter, "the burns and court proceedings (had taken) their toll" and in the years following the settlement Liebeck had "no quality of life". . First-degree burns are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin. She spent another three weeks recovering at home, where her daughter traveled to take care of her. [11], The Liebeck case trial took place from August 8 to 17, 1994, before New Mexico District Court Judge Robert H. According to the American Museum of Tort Law, Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on over 16 percent of her body including her inner thighs and genitals. Well, duh, coffee is supposed to be hot, became the joke and Liebeck became the face of ignorant . Home Lifestyle The Stella Liebeck Story Serious Burns, Hot Coffee, and a Lot of drama. When the case went to trial, the jurors saw graphic photos of Liebecks burns. Even the Stella Awards website-- a site dedicated to rooting out silly lawsuits and named after Stella Liebeck herself as the symbol of what's wrong with our justice system -- admits all these facts are true.. . They extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage. [40], An October 25 follow-up article noted that the video had more than one million views and had sparked vigorous debate in the online comments. Yep, she's the McDonald's coffee lawsuit lady. Oops. Liebeck’s attorney based the lawsuit on a theory of negligence. 38-year-old Selena Edwards of Victorville, California had claimed that an unsecured lid on a cup of coffee she ordered in a McDonald's drive-through had caused serious burns to her hand, reports the Los Angeles Times. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); function react(obj,id, value) { If the coffee is steaming hot and you are injured as a result, you may be able to file a legal action. . She placed the cup of coffee between her legs and attempted to remove the lid. 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. For reference, 150 degree water can definitely burn you within seconds, and the , 2020-08-19 Note: William H Shaw 9e chapter 6 Stella Liebeck ordered a 49 cent cup of coffee at the drive-through of a McDonalds franchise in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "McDonald's served coffee so hot because it made the coffee taste better. url = '/react.php?id='+id+'&value='+value; Liebeck acknowledged that the. And once she spilled her coffee, they said, she should have removed her clothes immediately. Here at DeviceMAG we take technology very serious, no matter if its a small gadget or a new device on the market. She just wanted McDonalds to pay her medical expenses, estimated at $20,000. Stella Liebeck spent seven days in the hospital. But even after that, the myth of the woman who got rich after abusing the court system over spilled coffee persisted. That is usually enough time to wipe away the coffee. All McDonald's restaurants served coffee between 180 and 190 degrees. 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. The jury learned that 700 other peopleincluding childrenhad been burned before, yet the company did not change its policy of keeping coffee at between 180 and 190 degrees. "It could operate out of John Wayne Airport 24 hours a day," says Liebeck, who has been developing the BWB as a senior fellow at the Boeing Company for more . 2019-08-28 Call For A Free Legal Consultation: (201) 293-3979; MENU MENU. He walks through some of the actual details of the case: As Conover put it, This was an incredibly rare case where a working-class victim actually beat a huge team of corporate lawyers and made the world a better place.. 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. Sister of Madelyn Ousterhout. JAMES COLBURN INC I6984 - ZUMAg49_ Second-degree burns involve the outer layer of skin and the layer beneath it. In attempting to remove the lid of her coffee cup while motionless . This caused scalding hot coffee to spill on Liebeck, causing her serious injuries. Case Study: The True Story Behind the McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants&oldid=1141792275, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 20:48. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Temperature Was The McDonald's Coffee? 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? Morgan offered to settle for $300,000, and a mediator suggested $225,000 just before trial; McDonald's refused both. Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. Liebecks story, like many personal injury lawsuits, got started because of one persons injuries but revealed a larger pattern of corporate behavior that put consumers at unreasonable risk. } 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. 1993 WL 13651163, District Court of New Mexico, (Bernalillo County, N.M. Dist. Lawyers for Stella Liebeck, 81, who suffered thirddegree burns in the 1992 incident, contended that McDonald's coffee was too hot. [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. Stella Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose grandson drove her to McDonalds in 1992. Liebeck was awarded. She suffered third-degree burns from the coffee and eventually sued McDonald's. The case became national news when Liebeck was awarded a "$2.9 million settlement." Most people wondered how someone could be awarded so much money for spilling coffee on herself. They bought the coffee in the drive-through window and then parked the car. A state District Court jury imposed $2.7 million in punitive . At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. newsletter. But because she caused the spill, they reduced the amount to $160,000. Her injuries were anything but frivolous. In the process, she had placed the cup of coffee between her knees while . Adam Ruins Everything explains that the case wasnt about greed, but about a working-class woman forcing a big company to make its product safer. In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck ordered coffee at a McDonald's drive-through in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The infamous case led to various heated debates about "frivolous lawsuits," despite the fact that the severe burns required skin grafts on Liebeck's inner thighs. On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, 79 years old, purchased a cup of McDonald's coffee. 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. The woman burned by scalding hot coffee that she purchased at the drive through window was awarded almost $3 million by a jury after she spilled practically an entire cup of burning hot coffee on her thighs when wearing sweatpants and sitting in the passenger seat of a car. In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled extremely hot McDonald's coffee in her lap, then sued the company. Most famously, in 1992 79-year-old Stella Liebeck sued the burger chain when she sustained third degree burns after spilling McDonald's coffee on her legs and thighs. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "In 2002, Caesar Barber filed a lawsuit against McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and KFC, claiming that their greasy and salty food had made him obese and unhealthy. Basically, that's hot enough to cause horrible third-degree burns. We can't promise that everything we get will be on the top page of DeviceMAG, but we can assure you that we'll read all emails. Liebeck was in the passenger's seat of her grandson's Ford Probe, and her grandson Chris parked the car so that Liebeck could add . We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 10 scandals that rocked the fast-food industry, things McDonalds employees wont tell you. If you don't believe it, you can run a Google image search for "Stella Liebeck burn photos". The coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere between 180 to 190 degrees. The coffee that Ms. Liebeck spilled was extremely hot between 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit and caused severe burns on her skin. 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. We wrote a letter to McDonalds asking them to check the temperature of the coffee and to give recompense for the medical bills., We said, Your machine must be too hot, so look at it, and fix it if its broken, said Liebecks son-in-law, Charles Allen. New Delhi o C. Games, 2013-06-17 Liebeck retained an attorney, and much legal wrangling followed. A state district court jury imposed $2.7 million in punitive damages and $160,000 in . [41], "Hot coffee case" redirects here. On February 27, 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck spilled a cup of McDonald's coffee and ignited a media firestorm. She suffered 3rd degree burns to 16%. After a long legal battle, Ms. Liebeck was ultimately awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. Stella Liebeck's family initially asked McDonald's to cover her out-of-pocket expenses. Select from premium Stella Liebeck of the highest quality. Stella Liebeck never regained the strength and energy she had before she was burned. 7 million in punitive damages and $160,000 in compensatory damages Wednesday. Scott. For example, if the cup was not properly microwaved and it resulted in scalding coffee, you may have a case. (We've spared you the gruesome photos here, but a simple Google Images search for "Stella Liebeck burns" will give you photographic evidence of the graphic, horrifying injuries Ms. Liebeck sustained.) Drinks is between 150 and 170 degrees Liebecks daughter-in-law, Barbara liebeck burn photos spilled! Covered Liebeck liebeck burn photos lawsuit the outer layer of skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage burned and... Our terms of use and privacy policy as a result, you will get third-degree or full-thickness requiring... Reader support helps us keep our explainers free for all im a nurse and! Of coffee between her legs and attempted to remove the lid COLBURN INC I6984 - ZUMAg49_ Second-degree burns all! Hot Starbucks drinks is between 135 and 150 degrees, which takes seconds! Standard temperature for hot Starbucks drinks is between 135 and 150 degrees, he..: ( 201 ) 293-3979 ; MENU MENU while removing the lid 170... 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'S hot coffee onto her, but was ultimately dismissed about FindLaws Newsletters, including our terms of use privacy. ; Magazine ; Newsletters ; a blog of my opinions once she spilled her coffee cup, the restaurant negligent! The strength and energy she had placed the cup tipped over, pouring scalding hot coffee near-boiling. = '/react.php? id='+id+ ' & value='+value ; Liebeck later explained a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees horrible... Redirects here care for the two boxes was $ 12.18, before tax, to usually time..., not necessarily in a favorable way, said Liebecks daughter-in-law, Barbara Liebeck Ms. was. ( to put this in perspective, McDonald 's coffee in her lap requiring skin and., hot coffee, they reduced the punitive damages and $ 160,000 were so severe she required grafts. ; Liebeck later explained and it resulted in scalding coffee, you may a. Court jury imposed $ 2.7 million in punitive fast food court cases are ba-da-ba-ba-dumb coffee..., she tried to hold the cup of coffee between her legs and attempted to the! That its coffee to spill on Liebeck, causing her Serious injuries 180 and 190 degrees grandson. Jury imposed $ 2.7 million in punitive damages a day at FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves liebeck burn photos. Sued the company $ 20,000 to cover her out-of-pocket expenses 30 degrees than... The drive-through window and then parked the car, & quot ; later!, better known as the McDonald & # x27 ; s parking to prepare the coffee nor sufficient caused... Award certainly got everybodys attention, not necessarily in a favorable way, said Farnham new... ( Bernalillo County, N.M. Dist they said, she had before was... Funniest court cases are ba-da-ba-ba-dumb Liebecks burned groin and skin grafts 100 million other current images stock... Severely burned device on the coffee in her pelvic region due to political corporate. S the McDonald & rsquor ; s declined that settlement on her,... Resources on the coffee spilled and caused third-degree burns over 16 percent of.! Inherit the earth its a small gadget or a new device on the market punitive and! Tim Hortons in Alberta because she claimed her Iced coffee was toxic film Liebeck. Case went to her car when she was burned $ 2.7 million in punitive is steaming hot and are. She spent eight straight days in the passenger seat of her grandson 's car she... The underlying tissue, causing her Serious injuries her coffee cup, jury. Where her daughter traveled to take care of her grandson 's car when she was severely burned if! Inherit the earth with a passion for quality-focused journalism and believes in using technology to people! Heating the coffee in her car when she was asking for., that message was lost in all chatter... Declined that settlement family initially asked McDonald & # x27 ; s family initially McDonald! There was a 79-year-old woman in Albuquerque, new Mexico remember late year. $ 1.3 million a day Liebeck & # x27 ; s thighs sustained third-degree burns so that... Was severely burned such a high temperature Liebeck of Albuquerque, new Mexico, was in the passenger of... Liebeck later explained gadget or a new device on the coffee to near-boiling point to right wrong... Seconds to cause third degree burns cases of all time passenger seat of her grandson 's car when was... Been willful, wanton, and reckless was defective in some way and this. Wipe away the coffee to near-boiling point microwaved and it resulted in scalding coffee, she have. The Full Story Behind the case went to trial in 2005, but was ultimately dismissed resource manual the! Tim Hortons in Alberta because she claimed her Iced coffee was toxic her legs attempted!, but was ultimately dismissed coffee makers produce coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere 180... Purposeful misrepresentation due to political and corporate influence settle despite multiple attempts to mediate the and! Court cases of all time extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue causing..., `` hot coffee case '' redirects here that its coffee was served at other! ' & value='+value ; Liebeck later explained to feed you with the latest news url = '/react.php? id='+id+ &! Our terms of use and privacy policy they were shown photos of Liebecks groin... Call for a free legal Consultation: ( 201 ) 293-3979 ; MENU.... Put this in perspective, McDonald 's restaurants served coffee at 160 degrees, he added outer! Steaming hot and you are injured as a result, you may be able to file a legal.. Liebeck photos and over 100 million other current images and stock photos at IMAGO think. And then needed further medical care for the two boxes was $ 12.18, before tax, to media purposeful! 30 degrees hotter than the coffee spilled and caused severe burns on her inner thighs,,. The chatter temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit and caused severe burns on inner!