What happened to the woman who sued McDonald's for hot coffee?

They awarded Liebeck $200,000 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 much did the lady who sued McDonald's for hot coffee get?

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. She sued McDonald's and a jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the burns she suffered. Typical reaction: Isn't coffee supposed to be hot?

What happened to the lady who got burned by McDonald's coffee?

Stella Liebeck never regained the strength and energy she had before she was burned. She passed away in 2004, at the age of 91. McDonald's now serves its coffee at a temperature that is 10 degrees lower.

Why did McDonald's lose the hot coffee lawsuit?

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. (To put this in perspective, McDonald's revenue from coffee sales alone is in excess of $1.3 million a day.)

How old was Stella Liebeck when she was burned?

Stella Liebeck, the 79-year-old woman who was severely burned by McDonald's coffee that she spilled in her lap in 1992, was unfairly held up as an example of frivolous litigation in the public eye. But the facts of the case tell a very different story.

Woman Burned by McDonald's Hot Coffee, Then the News Media | Retro Report | The New York Times

What happened to the new story of Mrs Liebeck's case?

The jury found that McDonald's was 80 percent responsible for the incident. They awarded Liebeck $200,000 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 hot does coffee burn your skin?

When the temperature of a hot liquid is increased to 140° F it takes only five seconds or less for a serious burn to occur. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and other hot beverages are usually served at 160° to 180° F, resulting in almost instantaneous burns that may require surgery.

What is the main problem in the McDonalds case?

In the McDonald's case, evidence was presented that McDonald's sold coffee at a temperature that was higher than industry average and that, at the temperature at which it was served, it was too hot to be consumed – it would cause 3rd-degree burns within seconds.

Does McDonalds still serve coffee at 190 degrees?

The judgment was ultimately reduced for an undisclosed amount. In the end, McDonald's admitted to keeping their coffee at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees. For reference, the optimal drinking temperature for hot beverages is around 140-150 degrees.

How hot can coffee legally be?

These judicial determinations are supported by the fact that most home coffee machines hold coffee for serving at temperatures between 170 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit.

What was the argument made by McDonalds lawyer Tracy Jenks?

However, McDonald's presentably weak argument from attorney Tracey Jenks stated that any food no matter what, if served over 54 °C, would cause a severe burn and that “restaurants had more pressing dangers to worry about and that the number of coffee spills is only 1 in 24 million cups of coffee making the settlements ...

At what temperature do you get 3rd degree burns?

Most adults will suffer third-degree burns if exposed to 150 degree water for two seconds. Burns will also occur with a six-second exposure to 140 degree water or with a thirty second exposure to 130 degree water. Even if the temperature is 120 degrees, a five minute exposure could result in third-degree burns.

Who Sued McDonalds for making them fat?

In a lawsuit that's been kicking around the courts since 2002, lawyer Samuel Hirsch is suing McDonald's for making his teenage clients (now in their 20's) obese.

What were the results of the McDonalds court case?

What was the result of the McDonald's lawsuit court case? Do you agree or disagree with the ruling? Explain. The girls lost the case, McDonald's didn't have to pay anything, and the Cheeseburger Bill was passed.

Can you sue for coffee burns?

Hot coffee burn lawsuits demand compensation payouts for physical pain and suffering and psychological injuries. In cases with severe burns, there will be significant medical expenses that are claimed in the case.

What is McDonald's meat really made out of?

Every one of our McDonald's burgers is made with 100% pure beef and cooked and prepared with salt, pepper and nothing else—no fillers, no additives, no preservatives. We use the trimmings of cuts like the chuck, round and sirloin for our burgers, which are ground and formed into our hamburger patties.

Why did Mcdonalds keep their coffee so hot?

Turns out, McDonald's has something to gain by keeping its coffee at scalding temperatures: the hotter coffee seems fresher, especially to people with long commutes.

Did McDonald's change the temperature of their coffee after the lawsuit?

In the 10 years before the case, more than 700 people who were scalded by coffee burns made claims against the company. But McDonald's never lowered the temperature of its coffee. The plaintiff in the case was 79-year old Stella Liebeck.

What is the unhealthiest food at mcdonalds?

Why is McDonald's unethical?

Fast-food giant McDonald's has been named the most unethical firm in the world because of its business conduct, including the way it treats its suppliers. The firm was ranked least ethical in an index compiled by the Fraser Consultancy, which assessed 42 brands from sectors ranging from food to fashion.

Why did Ms Liebeck's lawyers believe that McDonald's was liable to Ms Liebeck?

In essence, the jury said that Mrs. Liebeck did carry some blame for her injuries because she held the coffee improperly. At the end of the day, if McDonald's served its coffee at a reasonable temperature, it would have been unlikely that Mrs. Liebeck's injuries would've been so severe.

What happens if you drink boiling coffee?

Coffee, tea or other hot beverages at or above the cutoff temperature can burn the esophagus, and it's that scalding that seems to trigger cancer, according to the report. Such burns from hot beverages can damage the cells of the esophagus, Salmon said.

Does coffee burn fat?

In the short term, caffeine can boost the metabolic rate and increase fat burning, but after a while people become tolerant to the effects and it stops working. But even if coffee doesn't make you expend more calories in the long term, there is still a possibility that it blunts appetite and helps you eat less.

How do you drink hot coffee without burning yourself?

Pour your coffee in an insulated travel mug with a sturdy lid to drink on the go. If you're taking your coffee on the road, use an insulated travel mug with a heat-proof lining. If your coffee is really hot, the insulated lining will keep your mug from getting really hot and burning your hands when you pick it up.