Hot coffee case of McDonalds ...

[Ime]

This is insane.

She shouldn't get anything. Hel-lo! Coffee is HOT!

This is why I only drink cold drinks. When I spill them I don't burn. 🙂

 

[PCTweaker5]

Jeez I have been trying to avoid this thread and its still going! *deep breath* Im strong, Im not going to read it!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Calin

With 3rd degree burns at 75% percent of the body, her chances to survival are slim (3rd degree burns affect the muscular tissue, not only the skin. For your information, 1st degree burns are similar to the ones you can get tanning, 2nd degree are associated with formation of liquid bags under the skin, and 4th degree are the kind that reach the bones.
But how BIG are those coffees to produce such extensive damage? Freaking huge, 1-liter coffee cans :shocked:

Calin

Pretty accurate, but 3rd degree burns only destroy the skin (epidermis and dermis, a 2nd degree burn can affect the dermis too), which includes nerves and sweat glands (losing the sweat glands is bad). Once the burn destroys muscle and beyond they are classified as 4th. There are no such thing as burns in the 5th and 6th degrees although some make reference to them.

Chances are a 3rd degree burn will 'affect' muscle, but not destroy it.

 

[Ornery]

"The OJ trial was a farce/ratings ploy."

Yeah, and Nicole and Ronald Goldman aren't really dead either... :roll:

Bottom line is, a guilty POS got away with murder thanks to our illustrious legal system.



"So you're saying that the third degree burns were not real?"

No, I'm explaining how she managed to get so severely burned when 99.999% of the rest of the population would have avoided the same severity. Just picturing the whole scenario in my mind. I was also wondering if she might have been wearing "Depends", or something like that. That would also explain the severity. Sweat pants are only a tiny fraction of an inch thick. They aren't going to hold the liquid at 180 degrees against your skin for any time at all. Sitting in a puddle of it would, as would some type of diaper...

 

[Ness]

Wow, you're going nowhere with this one.

 

[classy]

Originally posted by: Xiety
So my teacher says the punitive charges of $2.7 million (the revenue McD got from selling coffee in 2 days at the time) is very little. What do you think?

My side is the old woman shouldn't have been awarded anything... but oh well.

I remember there were couple threads about this subject, and a lot of people had good points, but I can't find them... looked through archieves too, not there...

Anyways, I wanna hear everyone's thoughts on this...

Facts (added):

• 
  
  * 3rd degree burns on 6 percent of her body, including her groin, inner thighs, and buttocks.
  
  * Spent 8 days in the hospital.
  
  * Permanent scarring over 16 percent of her body.
  
  * Final punitive damages paid by McDonalds is known to be less than $640,000 (agreed on by McDonalds for dropping an appeal) but the exact amount is unknown due to a confidentiality agreement.
  
  * McDonalds' coffee was between 180-190F degrees.
  
  * Majority of other restaurants keep their coffee between 155-165F degrees.
  
  * Contrary to general public's knowledge, McDonalds actually had "Caution: Contents hot" warning on coffee cups, however they were printed in gold letters & alot smaller than they are printed on current coffee cups.
  

If a cup of coffee was hot enough to do that kind damage then I agree with the verdict. Her stupidity is not whats at question. Water boils at 212 degrees, so if they are serving coffee that hot, then yes they are at fault.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Ness

Last I checked, she spilled the coffee on accident.

You can drink Drano by accident

And you are going to claim that you "on accident" mistook the drano under the sink for the milk in the fridge? Sure thing.

A warning is on the label for a reason

Umm... I'm missing your point.

<----Makes a loud wooshing sound and waves his arm over your head.

They would have not had to put the warning label on there if all people were intelligent enough to not drink the drain cleaner

 

[Ornery]

"If a cup of coffee was hot enough to do that kind damage then I agree with the verdict. Her stupidity is not whats at question. Water boils at 212 degrees, so if they are serving coffee that hot, then yes they are at fault. "

"THE COFFEE SPILL HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD"

• The Specialty Coffee Association of America put coffee safety on its agenda for discussion. A spokesperson for the National Coffee Association said that McDonald's coffee conforms to industry temperature standards. A spokesman for Mr. Coffee, the coffee-machine maker, said that if customer complaints are any indication, industry settings may be too low. Some customers like it hotter. A coffee connoisseur who imported and wholesaled coffee said that 175 degrees is probably the optimum temperature for coffee because that's when aromatics are being released. McDonald's continues to say that it is serving its coffee the way customers like it. As one writer noted, the temperature of McDonald's coffee helps to explain why it sells a billion cups a year.

 

[Cashmoney995]

The god damned lawyers. They sued my dad's company for asbestos liability. FOR ANYONE WHO EVER WALKED INTO THE BUILDING AND OUT. Everyone from the mailman who walked into the lobby wants to get millions of dollars in case they ever get cancer. Not to mention, if you were ever in the building and get ANY type of cancer, not just lung or skin, the company would be liable.

Anyone who supports the Fat lawsuits, the asbestos lawsuits, and that coffee lawsuits is the devil themselves and should be shot. These things are ruining America.

Have it so that if a judge rules your claim incredibly idiotic you will have to pay all court fee's and the defendant can counter sue you for the amount of damages you requested from them.

The sad thing is that McDonnalds offered to pay for her medical bills, she almost accepted until the lawyers told her she could get much more. I hope she is barred from ever entering a McDonnalds ever again. I think Ronald McDonnald should go teepee her house.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Jhill
Unless it gave her 3rd degree burns over 75% of her body, no way in HELL does she deserve 2.7 million dollars.

You know how bad 3rd degree burns can be?

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Ness

Last I checked, she spilled the coffee on accident.

You can drink Drano by accident

And you are going to claim that you "on accident" mistook the drano under the sink for the milk in the fridge? Sure thing.

A warning is on the label for a reason

Umm... I'm missing your point.

<----Makes a loud wooshing sound and waves his arm over your head.

They would have not had to put the warning label on there if all people were intelligent enough to not drink the drain cleaner

They would, because being smart doesn't necessarily mean that your children are, or that you know the chemical properties of drano. What if someone told you that Drano was a cure for athlete's foot? You don't have to be itelligent, only uninformed, to fall for that. The warning on the lable specifically states to avoid contact with your skin.

Being intelligent does not mean you have to be a chemist.

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: Cashmoney995
The god damned lawyers. They sued my dad's company for asbestos liability. FOR ANYONE WHO EVER WALKED INTO THE BUILDING AND OUT. Everyone from the mailman who walked into the lobby wants to get millions of dollars in case they ever get cancer. Not to mention, if you were ever in the building and get ANY type of cancer, not just lung or skin, the company would be liable.

Anyone who supports the Fat lawsuits, the asbestos lawsuits, and that coffee lawsuits is the devil themselves and should be shot. These things are ruining America.

Have it so that if a judge rules your claim incredibly idiotic you will have to pay all court fee's and the defendant can counter sue you for the amount of damages you requested from them.

The sad thing is that McDonnalds offered to pay for her medical bills, she almost accepted until the lawyers told her she could get much more. I hope she is barred from ever entering a McDonnalds ever again. I think Ronald McDonnald should go teepee her house.

Next time, read at least a handful of posts before you make your own. McDonald's DID NOT offer to pay her medical bills, and that's why she took them to court FOR ONLY THE COST OF HER BILLS. It was the jury who awarded her the 2.7 million dollars (which a judge later reduced to less than 1 million.)

You are a fvcktard.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Ness

They would, because being smart doesn't necessarily mean that your children are, or that you know the chemical properties of drano. What if someone told you that Drano was a cure for athlete's foot? You don't have to be itelligent, only uninformed, to fall for that. The warning on the lable specifically states to avoid contact with your skin.

Being intelligent does not mean you have to be a chemist.

dude you can't be this dense. So how many freaking kids are going to read a label? It's there for adults and mostly to prevent a lawsuit should someone's relative try to commit suicide with the stuff.

About the athlete's foot cure, many of these petty lawsuits are caused by just that, people are that stupid to try false remedities and cures.

Intelligent means you know when to admit your line of thought was wrong.

Companies have to spend millions and millions on safety testing everything in ways not even designed to be used, just to make sure their tails are covered should some walking disaster try to use their 120V product in the bathtub and then tries to sue since 'how was I supposed to know electricity and water don't mix?'

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: Jhill
Unless it gave her 3rd degree burns over 75% of her body, no way in HELL does she deserve 2.7 million dollars.

I'm not saying I support this, but people should use common sense. HOWEVER, do you understand how dangerous 3rd degree burns are? Can you identify them? Should I tell you how damaging they are?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: classy
Her stupidity is not whats at question.

you've obviously never heard of comparative negligence

 

[lMlHuxley]

Ok, apparently the jurors felt the coffee was so hot that it had nearly malicious intent. They were also mad becuase mcdonalds did not feel sympathy for the old woman who burned herself. Once they were shown the graphic images, juries always fold. All coffee can cause sever burns and that is common knowledge. Humans understand that coffee=hot. I think mcdonalds should have paid her medical costs and the jury should have agreed to that plus the time she has had to take off of work and minor pain and suffering compensation. Anything above that is out of hand.

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: dolph
everyone who said she didn't deserve a penny should get some 3rd degree burns on their groin, and see how they react then. or maybe if it happens to their own grandmothers.

p.s. read the article. mcdonalds wasn't offering shjt.

McDonald's shouldn't have offered anything. She bought coffee and put it between her legs while driving. She's a fvcking idiot and she deserves those burns. In fact, she deserved more burns. She should be banned from ever buying coffee in the future.

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: lMlHuxley
Ok, apparently the jurors felt the coffee was so hot that it had nearly malicious intent. They were also mad becuase mcdonalds did not feel sympathy for the old woman who burned herself. Once they were shown the graphic images, juries always fold. All coffee can cause sever burns and that is common knowledge. Humans understand that coffee=hot. I think mcdonalds should have paid her medical costs and the jury should have agreed to that plus the time she has had to take off of work and minor pain and suffering compensation. Anything above that is out of hand.

Once again, McDonald's had prior knowledge that their coffee was causing severe burns and it was found that their competetor's coffee was 20 degrees lower, at a temperature that still made good coffee but wouldn't have given someone third degree burns.

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: dolph
everyone who said she didn't deserve a penny should get some 3rd degree burns on their groin, and see how they react then. or maybe if it happens to their own grandmothers.

p.s. read the article. mcdonalds wasn't offering shjt.

McDonald's shouldn't have offered anything. She bought coffee and put it between her legs while driving. She's a fvcking idiot and she deserves those burns. In fact, she deserved more burns. She should be banned from ever buying coffee in the future.

She wasn't driving. The car wasn't even moving. To say that someone deserved that kind of pain makes you the ass in the situation.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

McDonald's shouldn't have offered anything. She bought coffee and put it between her legs while driving. She's a fvcking idiot and she deserves those burns. In fact, she deserved more burns. She should be banned from ever buying coffee in the future.

How in the hell can a person make it this far down in such a lengthy thread without having read ANYTHING about this case? She was not driving, she was a passenger, and the car was parked. The extent of your ignorance makes it plain you have no business commenting on this at all IMO.

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: dolph
everyone who said she didn't deserve a penny should get some 3rd degree burns on their groin, and see how they react then. or maybe if it happens to their own grandmothers.

p.s. read the article. mcdonalds wasn't offering shjt.

McDonald's shouldn't have offered anything. She bought coffee and put it between her legs while driving. She's a fvcking idiot and she deserves those burns. In fact, she deserved more burns. She should be banned from ever buying coffee in the future.

You should be banned from ATOT for not reading anything in the thread and obviously not knowing ANYTHING about the situation we are discussing.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: dolph
everyone who said she didn't deserve a penny should get some 3rd degree burns on their groin, and see how they react then. or maybe if it happens to their own grandmothers.

p.s. read the article. mcdonalds wasn't offering shjt.

McDonald's shouldn't have offered anything. She bought coffee and put it between her legs while driving. She's a fvcking idiot and she deserves those burns. In fact, she deserved more burns. She should be banned from ever buying coffee in the future.

Yet another idiot who didn't read much of the thread. SHE WASN'T DRIVING!

A couple of people commented that 185 degrees is the reason McD's sells a billion cups of coffee a year.
I don't think so. I think the reason is that there are over 30,000 McDonalds.
I'll do the math for you...
1 billion divided by 33,000 is 33,333 cups of coffee a year per restaurant... sound like a lot?
McD's is open about 360 days a year (not Xmas, Easter, Turkey day, July 4?, and maybe another one afaik) That works out to about 90 cups of coffee per restaurant per day on the average.
That's not a lot of coffee...
The 24 hour type of convenience/gas store that I go to has FAR more traffic in and out for coffee than the local McD's (I go there sometimes too). The coffee is always fresh, and they have either 12 or 14 pots of coffee going at a time. I should ask them how many cups they sell a day... it's definitely well over 100. Then, there's another one of the same chain on the other side of town that's almost as busy, plus 4 or 5 other convenience stores that aren't as busy, but probably sell at least 4 or 5 dozen cups a day. Then there's Burger King, etc.

So, why is it that we only hear about these 700 McD's cases and not cases from all the other chains??

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Ness

Originally posted by: lMlHuxley
Ok, apparently the jurors felt the coffee was so hot that it had nearly malicious intent. They were also mad becuase mcdonalds did not feel sympathy for the old woman who burned herself. Once they were shown the graphic images, juries always fold. All coffee can cause sever burns and that is common knowledge. Humans understand that coffee=hot. I think mcdonalds should have paid her medical costs and the jury should have agreed to that plus the time she has had to take off of work and minor pain and suffering compensation. Anything above that is out of hand.

Once again, McDonald's had prior knowledge that their coffee was causing severe burns and it was found that their competetor's coffee was 20 degrees lower, at a temperature that still made good coffee but wouldn't have given someone third degree burns.

you're saying that the reason the jurors themselves said was the reason they didn't laugh the old woman out of court was not the reason they pinned mcdonalds for the money?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
So, why is it that we only hear about these 700 McD's cases and not cases from all the other chains??

correction: we heard about 1 mcdonalds case because it was so high profile. for all you know there are tons of others and they all just settle out of court like 99% of litigation in this country.

 

[DrPizza]

Uhhh, how many SUV rollovers have their been as a result of front tire (Firestone) blowouts?
A hundred even?

Geez, why is it that there are billions upon billions of trips in SUV's each year, but only a couple hundred people are injured (or killed) during a trip because of a front tire blowout leading to a rollover??

Ya' know... if they only blow out and cause the vehicle to roll over, injuring or killing the occupants 1 out of every 40 million trips, then they must be a heck of a lot safer than McD's coffee...

Firestone didn't make the people drive 65 mph... the people should have known that if they were driving faster than 5 or 10 mph and there was a blowout, there was a risk of rolling over. It's their own fault. Firestone can't control how their product is used.

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If you think McD's coffee is safe because so many cups are consumed safely, then I want to know what's wrong with the preceding argument.