Remember the ‘McDonald’s Hot Coffee’ Lawsuit? IT WAS JUSTIFIED ALL ALONG
Back in 1992, an elderly woman named Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s in what became known as the infamous “hot coffee lawsuit.” The public relations team at McDonald’s has made sure the case is remembered as frivolous, but, like the third-degree burns Stella Liebeck suffered from a cup of McDonald’s coffee, her lawsuit was dead serious. The facts were simple: Mrs. Liebeck used the drive-thru with her grandson, who was at the wheel. Once the car stopped moving, she placed the cup of coffee she’d just ordered between her legs and tried to add some creamer. The cup tipped over, dumping the contents into her lap, causing third-degree burns over 16% of her body. She required hospitalization for eight days. Whirlpool debridement of the burns and skin grafts followed. She was at least partially disabled for more than two years, and that’s to say nothing of her pain and suffering.
their hot coffee represented, with over 700 recorded burns and several lawsuits. But in 1992, their policy was to store coffee at 180–190 degrees F, which is almost the boiling point! Furthermore, McDonald’s higher- ups testified on the stand that no matter what happened, they had no intention of changing their behavior. Unsurprisingly, at the end of the trial, McDonald’s was hit with a $2.9 million penalty.
Although the penalty was later reduced, McDonald’s still dragged Mrs. Liebeck’s name through the mud in the press, with their version of the
story being the one that stuck in the public consciousness. But it wouldn’t change the fact that they had to pay her around
$700,000 at the end of the day — or that their coffee is now being served at a reasonable temperature.
For all of this damage, Mrs. Liebeck asked McDonald’s for $20,000 — arguably not even enough to pay her hospital bills.
When McDonald’s refused to pay more than $800, the case went to court, and it came out that they’d known for at least 10 years about the dangers
HIRING A PROPERTY DAMAGE ATTORNEY SHOULD COME FIRST HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
We are in the midst of hurricane season, and while we’ve watched some storms skirt right on by, as Floridians, we know it’s unfortunately only a matter of time. Whether it’s this year or in the next upcoming years, a storm is bound to hit — and hopefully, when it does, it poses no threat to us. However, we know the importance of being prepared. Hurricane preparation means stocking up on water, canned goods, and batteries. We put up hurricane shutters, bring in patio furniture, park our cars in secure locations, and decide whether to evacuate or hunker down and ride out the storm. However, hurricane preparation also means having a property damage attorney you trust.
do everything in their power to deny those claims. The amount of damage and repairs you face may be very high, and insurance companies will still look for ways to avoid having to pay. That is why setting out to deal with the insurance company on your own is not a great idea. Hiring a property damage attorney should not be a last resort. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to pay the least amount possible on every claim. An attorney can fight on your behalf to get them to pay out everything they owe. At The Whisler Law Firm, our team of attorneys is here to help guide you through the process of submitting a claim and will work to ensure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to. If you wait to contact an attorney, your risk of not recovering your losses increases. Contact us today to get prepared! We’ve got you covered!
If your property is ever damaged by a natural disaster, vandalism, or accident, you will be filing an insurance claim — and insurance companies
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