The woman who sued McDonalds, 84-year-old Stella Liebeck, did indeed win her case. In 1994, Liebeck and her attorneys sued McDonalds after Liebeck purchased a cup of their coffee and the coffee was erroneous served to her at a far higher temperature than normal.
The hot coffee burned her, severely injuring her legs and causing her to require skin grafts. She initially sought just $20,000 from McDonalds in order to cover her medical and other expenses, but the company refused to settle.
The case went to trial and a jury ultimately found McDonalds was at fault and awarded Liebeck $2. 9 million in punitive and compensatory damages. The judge ultimately reduced the award to $640,000, and the two parties eventually settled in a confidential agreement.
Therefore, although Liebeck did not receive the original award, she did indeed win her case.
What happened to the lady that sued McDonald’s for hot coffee?
In 1994, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, sued McDonald’s after she spilled a cup of the restaurant’s coffee in her lap. Liebeck was a passenger in her grandson’s car and had purchased a medium cup of coffee at the drive-through window.
After receiving the order, Liebeck attempted to remove the lid to add cream and sugar, but the lid slipped off and spilled hot coffee onto her lap, causing third-degree burns to her inner thighs, groin, and buttocks.
Liebeck initially asked McDonald’s to cover $20,000 in medical expenses, but McDonald’s refused and instead offered her $800. Deciding that this was an improper resolution, Liebeck sued the fast-food chain for negligence.
During the court case, McDonald’s was found to have known about the risks associated with selling coffee of such high temperatures, yet have continued the practice, regardless.
The jury ultimately awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages, which was lowered to $160,000, and $2. 7 million in punitive damages. This initial verdict was later decreased to approximately $500,000, following the appeal.
Eventually, opposing counsels settled the case out of court. While Liebeck ultimately received a settlement, McDonald’s publicly stated that it had changed its policy regarding the temperature of coffee it served.
Did the McDonald’s coffee lady win the lawsuit?
Yes, the McDonald’s coffee lady did win the lawsuit in 1994. On February 27th of that year, a jury awarded Stella Liebeck, the 79-year-old woman at the center of the case, $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.
7 million in punitive damages (which were later reduced to $480,000).
The case began when Liebeck spilled a cup of McDonald’s coffee in her lap as she sat in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car. As a result of the third degree burns she sustained from the spilling, Liebeck had to be hospitalized for eight days and required skin grafts.
The jury determined that McDonald’s was negligent in serving such hot coffee and for not warning customers about the temperature of the beverage. However, Liebeck’s legal team was railing against McDonald’s for the danger it posed to customers by selling coffee that was significantly hotter than what was served by their competitors.
The jury agreed and sided with Liebeck, making her case one of the most famous product liability cases of all time.
How much money did the McDonald’s coffee lady get?
The McDonald’s coffee lady, Stella Liebeck, was initially awarded $160,000 in punitive damages from McDonald’s after she sued them for serving her her coffee too hot. Liebeck was initially awarded $200,000 in compensatory damages, but the judge reduced that amount to $160,000.
The final amount awarded to Liebeck, however, was $2. 86 million after the jury deliberated for six hours and found McDonald’s 80% at fault. In the end, Liebeck only received $640,000 since she and McDonald’s had negotiated out of court prior to the jury verdict.
The balance of the award was not collected, and it is believed that the lawyers involved in the case received around 50% of the $2. 86 million award.
Is Stella Liebeck still alive?
No, Stella Liebeck is not still alive. She passed away on August 5, 2004, at the age of 91. Stella Liebeck’s story became famous in 1992 when she successfully sued McDonald’s after spilling hot coffee on herself and suffering severe burns.
The case highlighted the importance of product safety as well as the dangers of careless corporations. After her death, her family established the Stella M. Liebeck Endowed Scholarship Fund to honor her memory and ensure that her case and cause for greater safety and protection to consumers lives on.
How hot was the mcdonalds coffee that burned the lady?
The coffee served to the woman who had suffered third-degree burns was extremely hot. According to a study conducted by the university of Missouri-Columbia, the coffee was between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is significantly hotter than the optimal temperature for brewed coffee, which is around 175 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme temperature was necessary for the lawyers to prove that McDonald’s was negligent in not warning customers of the potential dangers of consuming their product.
The woman was awarded $640,000 in her lawsuit, a reminder that coffee can cause serious harm when served at dangerously high temperatures.
Is McDonald’s coffee still $1 any size?
Yes, McDonald’s coffee is still $1 any size. They offer plenty of flavors and sizes, including the smallest size, the 8-ounce “Mini,” which is still just $1. The prices may vary slightly depending on the location, but generally you can still purchase any size of hot or iced McCafé coffees, specialty beverages and tea for $1.
Whether you’re looking for a robust espresso blended beverage or a simple cup of brewed coffee, there is something to fit your individual needs.
How much money did this lady get for suing McDonald’s for?
In 1994, an 84-year-old woman by the name of Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s after she spilled hot coffee in her lap while sitting in her car. She sustained third-degree burns and required numerous medical treatments to heal.
At the time, McDonald’s was serving coffee between 180 and 190 degrees, approximately 30 to 40 degrees hotter than what was determined to be a “safe” drinking temperature, according to the American Burn Association.
Stella and her family sought only her medical expenses and around $20,000 to compensate her pain and suffering.
After a nine-day trial, the jury found that McDonald’s should have warned customers of the temperature of their coffee and awarded Stella Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages that were to cover her medical bills and other expenses.
The jury also awarded her an additional $2. 7 million in punitive damages as a punishment for McDonald’s negligence. McDonald’s eventually settled with Stella for an undisclosed amount, likely for much less than the original court-awarded damages.
Did the McDonalds brothers ever get paid?
Yes, the McDonald brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald, were both financially compensated for their involvement in the business. After the death of their father in 1948, the brothers opened a struggling barbeque restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
In 1954, they began to implement their revolutionary “Speedee” service system which attracted customers, allowing the business to expand.
In 1961 McDonalds Corporation founder Ray Kroc struck a deal with the brothers and ended up purchasing their franchise. Under the terms of the deal, the brothers received $2. 7 million in cash. Additionally, Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald each received one-third of the corporation’s stock.
The brothers continued to make periodic appearances at McDonalds corporate events, and received a token salary of $1 each annual salary even after their full retirement in the 1970s. In the end, the McDonald brothers were both well-compensated for their involvement in the company.
How much is Mariah Carey’s McDonalds deal?
Mariah Carey’s deal with McDonald’s is estimated to be worth around $12 million. The deal began in 2017 with the release of her single, ‘I Don’t’ featuring YG, which was used as the official soundtrack for the McDonald’s nationwide campaign known as ‘I’m Lovin’ It’.
As part of the deal, Carey was also featured in promotional material for the fast-food chain, such as posters and commercials. Additionally, Carey designed special items such as winter hats and t-shirts emblazoned with her signature ‘butterfly’ logo that could be purchased online.
In total, the agreement was supposed to last for two years but ended earlier in 2019.
Can you get 3rd degree burns from coffee?
No, you cannot get 3rd degree burns from coffee. According to the American Burn Association, 3rd-degree burns are defined as burns that damage all layers of the skin and underlying tissue, including fat, muscle, and even bones.
The temperature of hot coffee can vary greatly and is typically not hot enough to cause this type of damage. Scalding or spilling hot coffee or tea on yourself or someone else can cause 2nd-degree burns, which injure the skin’s second layer and cause blisters.
For this reason, it is important to be careful and mindful of how hot a drink is before consuming it.
What is the legal temp for coffee?
The legal temperature for coffee varies and there is no single, official coffee temperature. Coffee brewed and served at a temperature of 104-185°F (40-85°C) is generally considered safe to drink. In the United States, the temperature of coffee must be at least 135°F (57°C) to be considered safe.
Many coffee companies suggest the optimal drinking temperature range for their products to be between 140-158°F (60-70°C). Temperature is affected by the brewing method, ingredients, brew time, type of roast, etc.
Ultimately, the ideal drinking temperature for coffee is subjective and will vary from person to person.
How hot is too hot coffee?
It depends on individual preference, but typically hot coffee should be around 140–158°F (60–70°C). Any hotter than that and the coffee can start to taste burnt and the flavor will become increasingly muted.
At such high temperatures, the beans can start breaking down, mallowing the oils to evaporate and disrupting the taste of the coffee. If you prefer a hotter cup of coffee, it’s generally advised to wait for a few minutes after brewing before drinking – this gives the coffee beans a chance to cool down while still preserving its full flavor.
What temp is Starbucks coffee?
Starbucks coffee is typically served at a temperature between 180-190 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact temperature of your coffee will depend on the store’s individual brewing equipment, so it may also be slightly higher or lower.
This temperature range is right in the middle of the “ideal zone,” meaning it’s hot enough to provide the perfect balance between flavor and safety, but not so hot that it will burn your tongue. It’s important to note that no matter the temperature, coffee should always be served in cups made with heat-resistant materials.
This is to ensure it is safe to consume.
Was Mcdonalds negligent in the hot coffee case?
The famous “Hot Coffee” case involving McDonalds and Stella Liebeck in 1994 has been a controversial topic for many years and continues to be discussed in law and ethics classes today. The case arose after Stella Liebeck, an elderly woman, suffered severe and life-altering burns from a cup of McDonalds coffee.
She filed a lawsuit against the chain and was eventually awarded a large sum of money for her suffering.
The jury in the case determined that McDonalds was negligent in the incident for two primary reasons. First, McDonalds had been warned multiple times by customers over the years about how hot their coffee was, yet took no steps to address the issue.
Second, Liebeck had requested her coffee to be served to her at a temperature that was judged to be “unreasonably dangerous”. The jury determined that McDonalds had failed to take responsibility in safeguarding customers from a potentially dangerous product, and this negligence led to Liebeck’s injuries.
Ultimately the case hinged on the duty of care that McDonalds owed to its customers. The court concluded that through its decades-long policy of serving coffee at excessively high temperatures and their subsequent failure to take corrective action, McDonalds was in fact negligent and this negligence was the cause of Liebeck’s injuries.