Hot Coffee Scandal: McDonald's Faces Another Lawsuit After Customer Suffers Severe Burns

McDonald's is facing another lawsuit related to a hot coffee spill. In this instance, a San Francisco branch is being accused of serving a cup of coffee that was excessively hot and had a lid that was improperly attached. The plaintiff, Mable Childress, claims that she suffered severe burns when the coffee spilled on her body as she attempted to drink it.

In the lawsuit filed last week, it was claimed that the elderly woman is experiencing "physical pain, emotional distress, and other forms of damage." The negligence of the restaurant was stated as a significant contributing factor to her injuries. Additionally, Childress, in the lawsuit, stated that the restaurant employees declined to assist her, a claim which McDonald's has denied.

"When Childress reported her experience to us later that day, our employees and management team promptly addressed the issue and offered her assistance," stated Peter Ou, the McDonald's franchisee owner, emphasizing their commitment to addressing customer complaints. Ou further assured that their restaurants strictly adhere to strict food safety protocols, including comprehensive crew training to ensure the proper securing of lids on hot beverages. The company is currently conducting a thorough review of the newly filed legal claim."

This case bears resemblance to the famous lawsuit involving McDonald's hot coffee from several decades ago. In that incident, another woman spilled coffee on herself and suffered third-degree burns. Third-degree burns are the most severe type and penetrate through the entire skin.

In 1992, a jury agreed with her claim that the coffee was unreasonably hot, which was supported by the American Museum of Tort Law. According to the law museum, the coffee was "30 to 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other companies." Initially, the plaintiff was awarded nearly $3 million, but after an appeal, she settled for a lesser amount of around $480,000.

McDonalds was held responsible again this year in a lawsuit related to hot food. A family in Florida was granted $800,000 by a jury in a civil case against McDonalds and one of its franchisees. The lawsuit was filed after a toddler suffered burns from hot chicken nuggets. The jury concluded that Upchurch Foods, the franchise owner, was accountable for not adequately warning or giving appropriate instructions regarding the potential harm caused by the hot McNuggets served at a McDonalds restaurant in the Miami area.

McDonalds in a statement called it an "unfortunate incident" but that they "respectfully disagree with the verdict." Its defense said it had no control over the injuries and damages.