In Hot Water: Best Hot Coffee Lawsuits

News features

The news hit the Internet like a Grande Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappuccino Blended Creme: Starbucks is now offering its cold brewed coffee nationwide. (And they’re also raising their prices again, even though the cost of raw coffee beans is dropping.)

This will be welcome news to some who have been burned, literally, by hot coffee in the past. With more chill options available this summer, let’s reminisce on some of the most (in)famous hot coffee lawsuits:

Stella Liebeck v. McDonald’s

The original hot coffee case from 1994 that launched a thousand jokes, a movie, and one Toby Keith lyric. Liebeck was a passenger in a car who suffered third-degree burns to her inner thighs, genitals, and groin and required skin graft surgeries after spilling coffee in her lap.

In the previous ten years, more than 700 others had claimed they’d been burned by McDonald’s coffee, which was kept at a scalding 185 degrees by company policy. Liebeck offered to settle for $20,000, but after McDonald’s balked, a jury awarded her $2.7 million. A judge reduced the jury award, and the two eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Edwards v. McDonald’s

Selena Edwards suffered serious burns to her hands after a lid came off her coffee and she had the photos to prove it. Until she didn’t. Turns out those photos were lifted from a hospital website, so instead of getting $10,000 for her injuries, she was charged with 21 felony counts of insurance fraud.

Keller v. Southwest

Those front row seats on Southwest always look great, with all that leg room and a quick exit. But the lack of a tray table can be painful, as Angelica Keller found out when the cup of tea she’d been given spilled in her lap, causing severe blistering. Keller was awarded $500,000 for her injuries.

While some of these stories may sound humorous, the effects of hot coffee and hot tea burns can be horrific. If you have suffered legitimate injuries due to hot coffee or food products, you may want to consult with an experienced injury attorney near you.

Related Resources:

Hurt by a product or accident? Get your claim reviewed for free. (Consumer Injury)
Another McDonald’s Hot Coffee Lawsuit Filed in L.A. (FindLaw’s Injured)
That’s Hot! The Lawsuit Against Hot Food Survives (FindLaw’s Injured)
Keurig Recalls 7.2M Coffee Makers; 90 Burn Injuries Reported (FindLaw’s Injured)

Source: Legal Law Firm

Personal Injury Results

SETTLED MILLIONS

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Neck Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Neck Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

Broward County

Settled Millions

Premises Liability

Neck/Back Injury

Policy Limits

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Negligence

Neck/Back Injury

Policy Limits

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Back Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

St. Lucie County

Settled Millions

Motorcycle Accident

Traumatic Brain Injury

Policy Limits Settlement

Martin County

Settled Millions

Bicycle Accident

Leg amputation

Policy Limits Settlement

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Fractures & Herniations

Policy Limits Settlement

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Neck & Back Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

Martin County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Neck & Back Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Neck & Back Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

Broward County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Neck & Back Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits Settlement

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Motorcycle Accident

Fractures/Broken

Policy Limits Settlement

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Fractures & Herniations

Policy Limits Settlement

Martin County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Neck Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Neck Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Neck Injury

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Back Injury

Policy Limits

Broward County

Settled Millions

Truck Accident

Neck Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Neck Injury

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Wrongful Death

Policy Limits

Martin County

Settled Millions

Trip & Fall Premises

Spine Injury

Policy Limits

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Slip & Fall Premises

Spine Injury/Surgery

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Motorcycle

Neck

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Motorcycle Car Accident

Paralysis & Brain Injury

Policy Limits

Martin County

Settled Millions

Bicycle Accident

Head, Neck & Spine Injury

Policy Limits

Miami-Dade County

Settled Millions

Pedestrian Car Accident

Wrongful Death

Policy Limits

St. Lucie County

Settled Millions

Motorcycle Car Accident

Paralysis & Brain Injury

Policy Limits

St. Lucie County

Settled Millions

Bicycle Car Accident

Paraplegic/wheelchair

Policy Limits

Palm Beach County

Settled Millions

Car Accident

Paraplegic/wheelchair

Policy Limits

Broward County
Personal Injury Lawyers

FREE case evaluation

SUBMIT CASE DETAILS

Want Case Evaluation Priority?

Submit your case to our Priority Evaluation list.

Yes! I want Priority Case Evaluation

Office Locations

Palm Beach Gardens

Injury Legal Firm

3801 PGA Blvd #600

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Appointment Only

West Palm Beach

Injury Legal Firm

3001 Broadway

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Send Mail Here

Miami

Injury Legal Firm

7695 SW 104th St Ste 230

Miami, Florida 33156

Appointment Only

New York

Injury Legal Firm

155 E. 49th St, St 7E

New York, NY 10017

Appointment Only