Don’t Believe the Hype
http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/truth-behind-mcdonalds-hot-coffee-lawsuit.html
For years there has been this belief that lawsuits are out of control and those greedy trial lawyers are ruining life and everything for everyone in pursuit of gain through frivolous lawsuits.
I am a lawyer and, though I can appreciate your hesitance to be believe me considering the source, I can tell you this is simply not true.
Most people like to point to the infamous “hot coffee” lawsuit as the prime example of litigious insanity. They’ll tell you all about how coffee is hot and everyone should know that and you shouldn’t get millions if you burn yourself.
But most people don’t know the reality of this case. See the link above. Here are some salient facts:
- there was testimony that McDonalds kept their coffee dangerously hot, above industry standards, and did this despite reports of many serious injuries before this suit was brought
- the plaintiff here suffered burns requiring skin grafts in places you don’t want to think about.
- the plaintiff here attempted to settle the case for $20,000 (what she had to pay back for health care costs) and McDonalds offered her $800
- despite the jury of her peers giving her $160,000 and then $2.7 million in punitive damages, after appeals and a settlement agreement, she ended up with less than $500,000
None of these facts point to runaway trial lawyers making up facts. But the gaslighting of the public with regard to this case DOES point to some hideous brainwashing by corporate America to make you, the public, think that it’s those greedy trial lawyers ruining everything for you, the common man.
The reality is that, in our society, it’s us greedy trial lawyers that stand protect you, the consumer, from the multi-billion dollar companies that would gladly bury you and your family if it helped their bottom line.
Think about that the next time you think lawyers are the problem.
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