Introduction: The McDonald’s Hot Coffee Lawsuit

In 1992, an incident at a McDonald’s restaurant sparked a legal battle that would become infamous for its portrayal in the media and its impact on product liability law. The case, commonly known as the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit, involved Stella Liebeck, an elderly woman who suffered severe burns after spilling a cup of hot coffee purchased from a McDonald’s drive-thru.

The Incident and Lawsuit

Stella Liebeck’s ordeal began when she purchased a cup of hot coffee from a McDonald’s drive-thru in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While attempting to add cream and sugar to her