A Little Tidbit

The McDonald's coffee case and those bad, bad trial lawyers and their damned frivolous lawsuits. American Association for Justice, via LectLaw, via Roger Ailes:

"Nearly ten years later, critics of civil justice and juries continue to mock Stella Liebeck and the McDonald's coffee case, calling it 'frivolous' and 'laughable'.

However, it was McDonald's own testimony and actions that led a jury to rule against it."

McDonald's Scalding Coffee Case

"And Stella's injuries–which included 3rd degree burns across her groin, inner thighs, and buttocks–were no laughing matter."

"During discovery, McDonald's produced documents showing more than 700 claims by people burned by its coffee between 1982 and 1992. Some claims involved third-degree burns substantially similar to Liebeck's. This history documented McDonald's knowledge about the extent and nature of this hazard."

"McDonald's own quality assurance manager testified that a burn hazard exists with any food substance served at 140 degrees or above and that McDonald's coffee was not fit for consumption because it would burn the mouth and throat."

Even knowing that, McDonald's continued serving coffee that way. At least until Ms. Liebeck's case.