It’s because of that case and others that we have to see such wildly informative labels warning us that coffee is hot.
As others have said, the woman was an idiot for putting a cup of coffee she could only KNOW was hot in a place that caused her so much pain and suffering. That she didn’t check that the lid was properly in place is her fault alone.
As for progressive insurance, I love Flo, but would never buy their product since everything I have heard about their claims process and attempts at avoiding paying legitimate claims at any cost deters me.
There is a reason that insurance companies have earned a bad name. This case in particular demonstrates how far some will go to avoid their legitimate responsibilities.
When fraud and perjury appear a standard practice, those responsible should be imprisoned and driven out of business.
Again, where she sustained injury is irrelevant. McDonalds hold temp was 185 +/- 5 degrees. At that temp, she would have been scalded regardless of location. During the trial, McDonalds Quality Assurance Manager admitted a customer drinking the product at that temperature would "scald their throat or esophagus".
"That she didn’t check that the lid was properly in place is her fault alone."
If anything, the lid may have been too secure. It was when she tried to remove it, the spill occurred.
Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car when she was severely burned by McDonalds’ coffee in February 1992. Liebeck, 79 at the time, ordered coffee that was served in a styrofoam cup at the drivethrough window of a local McDonalds.
After receiving the order, the grandson pulled his car forward and stopped momentarily so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to her coffee.
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm