Stella Liebeck, an elderly grandmother, received third degree burns when she spi

Question

Stella Liebeck, an elderly grandmother, received third degree burns when she spilled coffee purchased at a McDonald's drive-thru. At trial, experts testified that McDonald's coffee was too hot to be consumed at the point of purchase, was hotter than any other restaurant's coffee or coffee brewed at home, and was so hot that third-degree burns would result within three to five seconds of coming into contact with the skin. McDonald's also conceded that the coffee was brewed extremely hot for commercial (profit) reasons, because most customers wanted their coffee to be hot throughout thier commute. After finding the company liable, the jury awarded Mrs. Liebeck two day's worth of coffee sales at McDonald's, an amount equivalent to $2.7 million, in punative damages. The award, although reduced to much less than that, set off a firestorm of criticism that has not died down to this day. Do you believe that it's possible for coffee to be unreasonably dangerous?

Explanation / Answer

Yes, I belie that coffee can be unreasonably dangerous. Human body is capable to withstand hotness of coffee upto a reasonable extent. if the hotness of the coffee is beyond the limit, then it can be termed as unreasonably dangerous. As the experts admitted that coffee was too hot for consumption at the time of purchase. Expert also opined that coffee was so hot that third degree burns could result within three to five seconds of coming into contact with the skin.

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