The Shriner’s Burn Institute in Cincinnati issued warnings that coffee served above 130 degrees was “dangerously hot.” McDonald’s knew that their coffee was “not fit for consumption” at the temperature it was served because it caused third-degree burns within 3-7 seconds of contact with the skin.
#Stella liebeck burns manual#
Everyone serves hot coffee!įact: 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. Myth: McDonald’s got punished for serving hot coffee. McDonald’s appealed and eventually the case settled for an undisclosed amount. The jury then also awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages against McDonald’s because they knew their coffee was dangerously hot and they served it like that anyway because it “tasted better.” The judge then reduced this award to $480,000. Myth: She sued them for a Million Dollars!įact: Stella offered to settle her case for $20,000, but McDonald’s refused her offer.įact: The jury awarded Stella $200,000 for her injuries, which the judge reduced to $160,000 because Stella was 20% at fault for her accident.
#Stella liebeck burns skin#
She required skin grafts and suffered serious and permanent scarring. She was hospitalized for 8 days and endured several very painful procedures to clean her wounds.
While removing the lid the cup tipped over and poured the entire cup of 190 degree coffee all over her sweatpants, which absorbed the hot liquid and held it against her skin.įact: Stella suffered third-degree burns (the most serious kind of burns) over her lap, which included large portions of her inner thighs and other sensitive areas. Stella placed the coffee between her knees so she could use both hands to open the lid and add her sugar. After their order was completed, her grandson pulled the car forward out of the drive-through lane and stopped again to allow Stella to add cream and sugar to her coffee. She ordered a cup of coffee at the drive-through and it was served to her in a Styrofoam cup. She was a passenger in her grandson’s car. While driving, the lid popped off and spilled coffee on her lap.įact: Stella Liebeck, the so-called “McDonald’s lady,” was 79 years old at the time of this accident. She bought a cup of coffee, put it between her legs and drove off.
Myth: A middle-aged lady drove herself through the McDonald’s drive-through. In this post, we’ll clear-up some misconceptions about this infamous case. And all too often, when we tell someone that their case isn’t worth as much as they think it is we hear, “But that McDonald’s lady got a million dollars!” However, most people don’t know the whole McDonald’s story. The make-up of the jury pool in the area the case is broughtĮven someone’s personality or demeanor can change how a case is valued.The amount of treatment the person received.The injured person’s medical history, age, gender, occupation and family obligations.We try to explain that valuing a personal injury case is as much an art as it is a science, and a lot of factors go into making that determination. Here at Segar & Sciortino we frequently talk to our clients (and potential clients) about case value.
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