When you think of the McDonald’s Hot Coffee Lawsuit you probably think of a woman who recklessly spilled hot coffee on herself and got millions of dollars.

In reality, the true facts of the Hot Coffee Case are a portrait of corporate stupidity and arrogance rather than one of a greedy accident victim and a jury run amuck.

The victim was a 79 year-old woman who purchased coffee in a drive-through. Her grandson was driving and when she put the coffee in her lap to add cream and sugar, it accidentally spilled and caused second and third-degree burns resulting in an eight day hospitalization and over $10,000 in medical expenses.

The victim offered to settle for just $20,000 but McDonald’s refused.

During the trial, several very harmful facts came out which supported a huge jury verdict:

• McDonald’s had a franchise wide policy of serving coffee at 185°F

• Coffee at home is served at about 140

• Coffee at 185 is not fit for human consumption because it will burn the mouth and throat on contact

• Coffee at 185°F will cost thirddegree burn after 2 to 3 seconds of skin exposure

• In a 10 year period, McDonald’s received more than 700 complaints of injuries from its Hot Coffee, but it would not reduce its mandated high serving temperature

After hearing this evidence, the jury awarded the victim $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million of punitive damages, which was equal to two days of McDonald’s coffee sales.

The Jury Verdict was reduced by 20% because the jury found the victim 20% responsible for her injuries for putting the coffee cup in her lap to add cream and sugar.

The trial judge reduced the Verdict further to $640,000.

In the end, I think the McDonald’s jury verdict was a good example of a jury punishing an arrogant corporation for dangerous behavior rather than one of a frivolous lawsuit and ridiculous verdict.

Tim Rayne is a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer with the Chester County Law Firm MacElree Harvey, Ltd. For nearly 30 years, Tim has been helping injured accident victims understand their legal rights and receive fair treatment from insurance companies. Tim Rayne has law offices in Kennett Square and West Chester and can be reached at 610-840-0124 or trayne@macelree.com or you can check out his website at www.TimRayneLaw.com.