A Pennsylvania woman, Annette Allen, is suing McDonald’s, alleging she suffered third-degree burns after a tray holding multiple cups of “excessively hot” coffee collapsed and spilled on her.
The lawsuit, filed on November 10th in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas by Florida-based firm Morgan & Morgan, claims McDonald’s was negligent.
The complaint cites a list of alleged failures, including improper lid placement, overfilling, inadequate cup and lid integrity, lack of a protective sleeve or carrier, and unsafe handoff during curbside delivery.
The suit seeks compensation for Allen’s injuries, which include permanent scarring, stress, and mental anguish.
According to attorney Keith Bauerle, McDonald’s failed to adequately supervise employees and violated industry standards for serving hot beverages.
The case revives the issue of hot coffee safety, years after the seminal 1990s lawsuit that first brought the matter national attention.
The seminal “hot coffee” lawsuit, Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants, occurred in 1994 and became famous, or infamous, for the large jury award. The plaintiff, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck, suffered third-degree burns requiring skin grafts after she spilled coffee purchased at a drive-thru onto her lap in 1992.
A jury found McDonald’s 80% responsible for the incident due to its policy of serving coffee at a dangerously hot temperature, which they ruled constituted a defective product and a failure to adequately warn customers.
The jury awarded Liebeck $160,000 in compensatory damages (reduced due to her being found 20% at fault) and $2.7 million in punitive damages.
The trial judge later reduced the punitive damages to $480,000, and the parties ultimately reached a confidential out-of-court settlement.
The case sparked a national debate about tort reform and the perception of “frivolous” lawsuits, despite the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries.
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