What was the outcome of Liebeck vs McDonalds?
What was the outcome of Liebeck vs McDonalds?
Verdict. A twelve-person jury reached its verdict on the Liebeck case on August 18, 1994. Applying the principles of comparative negligence, the jury found that McDonald’s was 80 percent responsible for the incident and Liebeck was 20 percent at fault.
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.
Did Liebeck become a millionaire?
Liebeck did not become a millionaire or anything close to it.
Did McDonald’s lower coffee temperature?
McDonald’s coffee was served at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. 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.
Why did McDonald’s keep coffee so hot?
During the trial, it was revealed that McDonald’s kept its coffee temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit, even though any drink served at temperatures over 140 degrees Fahrenheit could cause serious burns. The company claimed to do that because it “made the coffee taste better.”
How much did McDonald’s pay liebeck?
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 hot was the McDonald’s coffee in the lawsuit?
180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit
Here is some of the evidence the jury heard during the trial: McDonald’s operations manual required the franchisee to hold its coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Coffee at that temperature, if spilled, causes third-degree burns in three to seven seconds.
How hot was the McDonald’s coffee?
between 180 to 190 degrees
The coffee was heated to somewhere between 180 to 190 degrees. Thus begain the story of the infamous McDonald’s hot coffee case.
Who was the lawyer in the Liebeck v McDonald’s case?
In 2011, trial lawyer Susan Saladoff made a documentary, “Hot Coffee,” that exposed the true story and corrected some of the public perception of the case. (“Hot Coffee” is available in the museum’s gift shop.)
How much did McDonalds pay for Liebeck’s Burns?
McDonald’s offered Liebeck only $800—which did not even cover her medical expenses. When the case went to trial, the jurors saw graphic photos of Liebeck’s burns. They heard experts testify about how hot coffee should be and that McDonald’s coffee was 30 to 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other companies.
Why did Mrs Liebeck Sue McDonald’s for serving hot coffee?
Mrs. Liebeck also asked McDonald’s to consider changing the excessive temperature of its coffee so others would not be similarly harmed. Myth: McDonald’s was unfairly punished for serving hot coffee because everyone knows that hot coffee can cause burns. Reality: People did not realize how seriously they could be burned.
What was the water temp in Liebeck v McDonald’s?
“We knew, before the lawsuit was filed, that the temperature of the water was 190 degrees or so, and the franchise documents required that of the franchisee,” said Kenneth Wagner, an Albuquerque lawyer who represented Liebeck. Most home coffee makers produce coffee that is between 135 and 150 degrees, he added.