The Hot Coffee Spill Lawsuit

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By:

Team of Hukumindo

Previously, the Hukumindo.com platform has talk about "How To Obtain Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) in Indonesia", "I Have a Contract Whose Goods Have Not Been Delivered, How Do I Sue Under Indonesian Law?" and on this occasion we will discuss about 'The Hot Coffee Spill Lawsuit'. This article is taken entirely from the site "Lawabsolute.com" entitled: "Most bizarre legal cases throughout history" as quoted in reference.

On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck ordered a 49-cent cup of coffee from a McDonald’s drive-through. She was in the passenger’s seat of her grandson’s car, which did not have cup holders.[1]

In the process of trying to add cream and sugar, Liebeck put the coffee between her knees and pulled the far side of the lid to remove it but accidentally spilled the entire cup. As she was wearing cotton trousers, they absorbed the coffee and fused to her skin, causing third-degree burns.[2]

After eight days in hospital and undergoing skin grafting, Liebeck lost 20 pounds and needed extra care for three weeks. She was left partially disabled for the next two years. Liebeck sought to receive $20,000 from McDonald’s to cover her medical expenses, but they only offered $800. She then filed a lawsuit against the chain, accusing them of gross negligence for selling coffee that was “defectively manufactured” and “unreasonably dangerous”.[3] 

After two more attempts to settle, and McDonald’s refusing twice, the case went to trial. During the hearings, it was revealed that the chain had received more than 700 reports of people being burned by their coffee. The jury found McDonald’s was 80% responsible for the incident and awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages. She also received $2.7 million in punitive damages, calculated by the jurors as two days’ worth of coffee sales for McDonald’s.[4] And if you have difficulties with this topic, contact us, feel free in 24 hour, we will be happy to help you. 

*) For further information please contact:

Mahmud Kusuma Advocate

Law Office

Jakarta - Indonesia.

E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com

________________

Reference:

1. "Most bizarre legal cases throughout history", www.lawabsolute.com., Diakses pada tanggal 2 Maret 2022, https://www.lawabsolute.com/recruitment-news/article/most-bizarre-legal-cases-throughout-history

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.