MGMT 325:Social Responsibility and Ethics Managment Issues and Crisis Management
ID: 424660 • Letter: M
Question
MGMT 325:Social Responsibility and Ethics Managment
Issues and Crisis Management; Ethics Essentials
Last names beginning with M through Z will argue againstMrs. Liebeck (in favor of McDonald's).
The position you have been assigned may not agree with your viewpoint or opinion. Debating the viewpoint you disagree with can help broaden your understanding.This case is very familiar to most people: Mrs. Stella Liebeck and her nephew go to a McDonald’s drive-through. She orders a cup of hot coffee which is subsequently spilled in her lap causing serious burn injuries.
Read Case Study 21 McDonald’s—The Coffee Spill Heard ‘Round the World and watch the Documentary ‘Hot Coffee’ clips to help prepare. For the debate, additional research will be necessary beyond the material presented in the case study and the videos to gain additional perspectives.Write a discussion post (200-300 words) setting out your argument as to whether or not the case was frivolous. Use facts from credible sources to make your points. You can also bring in examples from other cases. Start your message with either "IN FAVOR" or "AGAINST" so that your classmates will know which side you are arguing.
Address the following questions:
What are the arguments for Mrs. Liebeck?
What are the arguments for McDonald’s?
Is the case frivolous? Why or why not?
Is Mrs. Liebeck at fault?
Is McDonald’s at fault?
Were any precedents set either before or after this case?
Does issues management play a role? If so, how?
Should any damages be paid to Mrs. Liebeck?
What is the role of the media in this case?
How does tort reform affect consumers and businesses?
Would the outcome of this case be different if it were to occur today?
Explanation / Answer
Liebeck case can be seen as a simple case of negligence as when coffee was spilled on the lap of Ms. Liebeck , she was siting the in passenger seat and had complete control over the cup. That car did not have any cup holder and a slanted dash and in order to take the lid off for adding sugar and cream, Liebeck kept the cup in between her legs. This resulted the backward flipping of the cup resulting the spilling of hot coffee on her and the sweatpants which she was wearing hold the heat of coffee for a longer time resulting in injuries.
In order to be enjoyed fully, the temperature of the coffee should be 195 to 205 degree while being brewed and for optimal taste, the temperature should be in between 180-190 degree. The temperature of the coffee was in between 165 to 170 degree and it could have cooled down more after being spilled. As the matter of the fact , the temperature of the coffee is quite high but there is nothing unique with the coffee of McDonalds and billions of cups of coffee is sold and enjoyed by the customers each year and all the restaurants sell the coffee on this temperature.
The National Coffee Association confirmed that the temperature of the coffee was within the permitted limits with the industry guidelines. Most of the restaurants received regular complaints from the customers if the temperature of the coffee is slightly lower. As the injury was resulted due to negligence of uses, it does not mean that the product becomes unsafe.
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