On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ordered a cup of coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald’s restaurant. She placed the coffee between her legs and attempted to remove the lid. When she removed the lid, the coffee spilled onto her lap.
She sued McDonald’s, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company did not provide an adequate warning.
Liebeck was not seeking a large settlement; she initially asked for only $20,000 to cover medical bills. However, McDonald’s refused to settle, and the case went to trial.
The jury found McDonald’s liable for Liebeck’s burns and awarded her $2.86 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. However, the judge later reduced the punitive damages to $2 million.
Liebeck died in 2004, but the case is still cited as a prime example of how not to handle a personal injury claim.
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How did Stella Liebeck burn herself?
On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ordered a take-out coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald’s. After receiving her coffee, she placed it between her legs and attempted to remove the lid. However, the coffee spilled, causing third-degree burns to her groin and thighs.
Liebeck initially sought to settle with McDonald’s for $20,000, but the company refused. She then sued, alleging that the coffee was unreasonably hot and that McDonald’s had failed to provide an adequate warning. After a two-week trial, a jury awarded her $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages.
The case garnered national attention, with many people criticizing Liebeck for suing McDonald’s. However, many others defended her, arguing that she had not received adequate warning about the coffee’s temperature and that McDonald’s had acted negligently.
Ultimately, the case helped to change the way that coffee is served in restaurants. Many places now use thermal carafes to keep coffee hot, and they typically provide warnings about the coffee’s temperature.
How old was Stella Liebeck when she got burned?
Stella Liebeck was 79 years old when she got burned. In 1992, Liebeck was in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car when he crashed into a parked van. The car’s cup holder spilled coffee, scalding her legs. Liebeck sued McDonald’s, claiming that the coffee was too hot. A jury awarded her $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages, which were later reduced.
Is Stella Liebeck still alive?
Is Stella Liebeck still alive?
This is a question that many people may be wondering, as Stella Liebeck is a name that is often associated with a famous lawsuit. However, the answer to this question is yes – Stella Liebeck is still alive.
Stella Liebeck was born in 1922, and is currently 96 years old. She is a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Liebeck is most well-known for a lawsuit that she filed against McDonald’s in 1992. She alleged that she had been burned by a cup of coffee that she had purchased from the restaurant. The case garnered a great deal of publicity, and became known as the “coffee spill case”.
Ultimately, Liebeck was awarded a settlement of $2.9 million. However, this amount was later reduced to $640,000.
Since the lawsuit, Liebeck has remained relatively quiet, and has not made many public appearances. She is still alive and currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Can you sue for coffee burns?
Can you sue for coffee burns?
This is a question that is asked quite often, and the answer is unfortunately, it depends. Many people believe that they can sue any business or individual for any injury that they may suffer, but this is not always the case. In order to sue for coffee burns, the injury would have to meet certain criteria.
First, the coffee burn would have to be severe enough that it caused significant physical harm. This could be determined by the amount of time it takes for the wound to heal, the amount of scarring that is left, or the amount of pain and suffering that is endured. Second, the coffee burn would have to be the result of someone else’s negligence. This means that the coffee burn would have to be a result of an unsafe working environment or defective product.
If the coffee burn does meet these criteria, then the victim may be able to file a lawsuit against the business or individual that caused the injury. However, it is important to note that these cases can be difficult to win, and the victim may not receive the full amount of damages that they are seeking.
How much money did the McDonald’s coffee lady get?
On February 18, 2014, a jury in Albuquerque, New Mexico, awarded $2.9 million to a woman who had sued McDonald’s after she was burned by coffee she had purchased at one of the chain’s restaurants. The jury found that the coffee was unreasonably hot and that the restaurant was negligent in serving it to 79-year-old Stella Liebeck.
Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on her legs, groin, and buttocks after she spilled coffee on herself. She required skin grafts and spent eight days in the hospital. McDonald’s had offered her $800 to settle the case before it went to trial, but she rejected the offer and opted to take the company to court.
The jury ultimately found McDonald’s liable for Liebeck’s injuries and awarded her $2.7 million in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. The judge later reduced the punitive damages to $2.3 million. McDonald’s has since changed its policy and now serves coffee at a much lower temperature.
How much did the woman who sued McDonald’s get?
In 1994, a woman by the name of Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s after she spilled coffee on herself and suffered severe burns. Liebeck was awarded a settlement of $2.9 million, which was later reduced to $640,000.
What temperature is McDonald’s coffee now?
McDonald’s coffee is now served at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, as opposed to the previous temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. This change was made in order to ensure that the coffee is hotter and more consistent in terms of taste.