How Much Do You Really Know about the McDonald’s Coffee Case‌?

Everyone has heard of the McDonald’s case and results, but let’s see what you really know. Go through this test and see how you score based on what you think you have heard. A special thanks to David W. Ransin, Esq. of Springfield, MO, who gave permission to reprint this test and the accompanying commentary.

1. When Stella Liebeck was burned, she was in the:

A. Driver’s Seat
B. Passenger Seat
C. Rear Seat

2. When the coffee spilled, the car was:

A. Moving
B. Parked
C. On the highway

3. The cup was:

A. Being handed to her and was dropped
B. In her crotch
C. Between her knees

4. When the coffee spilled, Stella was:

A. Squeezing her legs together while reaching for her Egg McMuffin
B. Removing the lid to add cream and sugar
C. Eating her breakfast

5. Stella received burns to her:

A. Inner thighs
B. Perineum
C. Buttocks
D. Genitalia
E. All of the above

6. These burns were:

A. 1st Degree
B. 2nd Degree
C. 3rd Degree
D. All of the above

7. Stella required:

A. 2 days in the hospital
B. 5 days in the hospital
C. 8 days in the hospital and skin grafting surgery

8. McDonald’s quality assurance manager testified that the company actively enforced a requirement that its coffee be served between:

A. 140 to 150 degrees
B. 150 to 170 degrees
C. 180 to 190 degrees
(HINT: Your coffee at home comes out at about 135 to 140 degrees).

9. McDonald’s quality assurance manager testified that the company knew that coffee served at the required temperature was not fit for consumption because it would burn the mouth and throat.

A. True
B. False

10. According to the experts, coffee served at the temperature as required by McDonald’s causes full thickness burns to human skin in:

A. 2 to 7 seconds
B. 10 to 20 seconds
C. 30 to 60 seconds

11. Prior to Stella’s burns, McDonald’s had received more than this number of coffee burn claims:
A. 100
B. 300
C. 700

12. Prior to filing her lawsuit, McDonald’s rejected Stella’s offer to settle all her claims, medical bills, injury and scarring, for the total amount of:

A. $20,000
B. $100,000
C. $500,000

13. The jury evaluated Stella’s total claim for compensatory damages for all of her medical bills, injuries, and scarring at:

A. $200,000
B. $500,000
C. $2,000,000

14. Based on the evidence and testimony, the jury also awarded punitive damages against McDonald’s in the amount of:

A. $2,700,000
B. $4,300,000
C. $10,000,000

which was later reduced by the court at McDonald’s request to:

D. $480,000
E. $1,500.000
F. $5,000,000

15. As her percentage share of her own responsibility or fault for contributing to her own injury, the jury assessed fault against Stella in the amount of:

A. 0% her fault, 100% McDonald’s fault
B. 10% her fault, 90% McDonald’s fault
C. 20% her fault, 80% McDonald’s fault

1. Stella was burned in the, B, passenger seat.

2. The car was, B, parked.

3. The cup was, C, between her knees.

4. When the coffee spilled, Stella was, B, removing the lid to add cream and sugar.

5. Stella received burns to her thighs, buttocks, and genitalia. E is the correct answer.

6. These burns were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree. D is the correct answer.

7. Stella required, C, 8 days in the hospital and skin grafting surgery.

8. McDonald’s quality assurance manager testified that the company actively enforced its coffee be served at, C, 180 to 190 degrees.

9. A, TRUE. McDonald’s quality assurance manager testified that the company knew that coffee served at that temperature was not fit for consumption.

10. Experts say coffee served at the temperatures required by McDonald’s causes full thickness burns to human skin in, A, 2 to 7 seconds.

11. Prior to Stella’s burns, McDonald’s had received “more” than, C, 700 coffee burn claims.

12. McDonald’s rejected Stella’s initial offer to settle all her claims for, A, $20,000.

13. The jury evaluated Stella’s total claim for compensatory damages for all of her medical bills, injury, and scarring for the total amount of, A, $200,000.

14. Based on the evidence and testimony, the jury also awarded punitive damages against McDonald’s in the amount of, A, $2,700,000, which was later reduced by the court at McDonald’s request to, D, $480,000.

15. As her percentage share of her own responsibility or fault for contributing to her own injury, the jury assessed fault against Stella in the amount of, C, 20% her fault; 80% McDonald’s fault.

• The punitive damages against McDonald’s equaled only about 2 days of McDonald’s coffee sales.

• Based on the 20% assessment of fault against Stella, her total compensatory damage award was reduced from $200,000 to only $160,000.

• After appeals, and after the court reduced the punitive award to only 3 times the damage award, or $480,000, for a total of $540,000, the claim was finally settled for a confidential sum believed to be a lesser amount.