Practice Areas
Blog 
General
- Panel Sparks Controversy Again with New Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines
- Doctor Misdiagnoses Woman and Fails to Complete Full Examination; Woman Dies Days Later!
- Study Finds Hospital Acquired Infections Greatly Impact ICU Deaths
- Medical Malpractice and Res Ipsa Loquitur: An Explanation
- Medical Malpractice Liability and Nurses; Why Nurses are being sued More and More Often
News
Posted on 5/17/2012
Posted on 4/27/2012
Posted on 11/14/2011
Posted on 8/1/2011
Posted on 7/9/2011
Library
General
- Discover how you can win your lawsuit by taking Three Simple Steps in Kingston, New York
- How I learned a lesson in life from a shyster lawyer
- The Day My Hero Died
- Discover how you can get the special services for your disabled child in an Individualized Education Plan in Kingston, New York
- Discover how you can get top-notch health insurance for your family for less than $200 a month in Kingston, New York
"Hot Coffee": A Movie you must see
Posted on Nov 14, 2011
On November 1, 2011, HBO Films released a documentary, "Hot Coffee", about America's civil justice system. "Hot Coffee" is named after the well-known case arising from McDonald's coffee that caused severe, third degree burns and multiple skin grafting operations on Stella Liebeck, a 79 year old Albuquerque, New Mexico resident who spilt the coffee on her lap.
"Hot Coffee" explores the facts of the McDonald's coffee case and contrasts the public perception of that case with the facts. While members of the public universally condemn the McDonald's coffee case as an example of "jackpot justice" at its worst, the facts of the case tell a different story.
The facts of Stella Liebeck's case were that she sustained severe, third-degree burns to her pelvic area necessitating three skin-grafting operations. Photographs showing the burns are grotesque. The lawyers for Ms. Liebeck discovered that McDonald's had a corporate policy of overheating their coffee by 40-50 degrees, which was designed to reduce the number of customers asking for free refills. McDonald's had 700 documented complaints of scalding burns caused by their hot coffee. McDonald's did nothing in response to the 700 complaints about their "hot" coffee.
Notably, the director of McDonald's risk assurance department testified matter-of-factly at a deposition that McDonald's coffee was not fit for consumption at 180-190 degrees (its desired temperature under McDonald's corporate policy) and if a consumer drank the coffee at that temperature, it would burn them.
A jury found Stella Liebeck partially at fault for spilling the coffee on herself and found McDonald's at fault for its corporate policy of overheating coffee to extreme temperatures and ignoring repeated burn injuries caused by their coffee. Compensatory damages for Ms. Liebeck's injuries of $160,000 were modest given her severe injuries, and the punitive damages of $2.7 million were later reduced by the Court to $480,000.
When random members of the public were shown photographs of Ms. Liebeck's severe pelvic burns, they were shocked and they could not believe that a single cup of coffee could have caused such injuries (you have to see the photographs to believe this). When informed that McDonald's had a corporate policy of overheating their coffee and McDonald's had received 700 complaints of burns caused by their coffee, their indignation rose.
After getting the actual facts of the McDonald's case, the persons interviewed for "Hot Coffee" stopped laughing at the McDonald's case and many expressed the view that the jury did not go far enough with their verdict. After the jury's verdict in Albuquerque, New Mexico, McDonald's changed its corporate policy by reducing the temperature of its coffee. A single lawsuit prevented innumerable burn injuries by forcing McDonald's to change its corporate policy.
"Hot Coffee" does an excellent job of illustrating the difference between perception and reality. The perception of the public is that Stella Liebeck scammed McDonald's for millions for a minor injury that was completely her fault. The reality of the McDonald's case is that Stella Liebeck sustained severe injuries by scalding hot coffee that was deliberately overheated by McDonald's in order to maximize their profits from coffee sales.
For those interested in learning the truth about America's civil justice system, the movie, "Hot Coffee", is a fantastic primer.
If you have any questions about "Hot Coffee", I welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 866-889-6882. You can request a FREE copy of my book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, by sending me an e-mail at jfisher@mmolaw.net.
Free Book
The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims
ONE BIG PROMISE
You will not be another of the 98,000 victims of medical malpractice in the United States in 2009 if you read my FREE BOOK. I have a book that will tell you why most victims of medical malpractice never recover a penny. If you are the victim of medical malpractice, we will rush this free, valuable information so you know what to do. If you don't call now, you have only yourself to blame.
You will never have to worry about medical malpractice again if you call this toll-free number, 866-889-6882, for your free book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, and an audio CD of the book, or you can request the book here and the book will be rushed to you immediately at no cost.
(New York residents only)
Connect With Us
Are we friends on Twitter and Facebook yet? I regularly post tips and advice about medical malpractice that I know you’ll enjoy. Click the links and let’s connect!
Free Case Evaluation
Begin your case review by filling out the form below or call us at 866.689.9692
John H. Fisher
130 North Front Street
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Fax: 845-331-2004
Toll Free: 866.889.6882
Get Directions
Contact Info
John H. Fisher
130 North Front Street
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Fax: 845-331-2004
Toll Free: 866.889.6882
Video Library
General:
- Personal Injury Attorney In New York Is Motivated By The Difference His Case Results Make In Peoples Lives
- How To Know Which Law Firm Is Right For You According To Medical Malpractice Attorney In New York
- Knowing You Are The Victim Of Medical Malpractice Can Be Tricky According To New York Attorney
FAQ
General
- What is the best way to reduce (or even eliminate) photocopy expenses in your law practice in Kingston, New York?
- Why you should never pay attention to lawyer advertisements when hiring a lawyer in Kingston, New York?
- What is the #1 way to defeat a subrogation claim against your injury compensation in New York?