A Case Study of Stella Liebeck Versus McDonalds Restaurant

Document Type:Thesis

Subject Area:Business

Document 1

Liebeck got burnt as a result of hot coffee purchased from McDonald’s Restaurant while she was in a car being driven. I had heard of this case before during one of my chit-chats with friends who were making fun of it. To them, the case was just an accident that was not merited and should never have found its way in the courts of law, leave alone being awarded the hefty amounts on the side of the plaintiff. I could not agree with my friends more; this case was frivolous and a mere storm in a teacup that deserved nothing but a blind eye. However, its synthesis and analysis play a pivotal role in the current debate on tort reforms.

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In her submission before the judge, the plaintiff, Miss Liebeck, complains that she suffered injuries as a result of the burns she got from the spilled coffee. However, the case is given weight by the reluctance of the defendant, McDonald’s Restaurant, to meet the complainant’s medical bill. The refusal might have been interpreted as heavy-headedness by the plaintiff, compelling her to seek legal redress of the matter. It is my opinion that had the Restaurant taken severe Liebeck’s complaint, the two parties could have settled the issue out of the court, and I would have avoided the current implications it caused. All in all, I do not agree with the verdict that found the defendant 80% guilty and the plaintiff 20% liable.

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If I were a decision-making executive at McDonald’s Restaurant, I would have dealt with this issue differently. I have the feeling that the reluctance of the Restaurant’s management to solve the case when Miss Stella Liebeck approached them first before going to court was the driving factor that compelled her to seek legal redress. I first would have discussed with Stella Liebeck on how the Restaurant would not only apologize for the “accident” but also try to meet her medical expenses. The essence of this is to strictly limit chances of a court process that is usually expensive and rigorous. Additionally, I would advise the Restaurant’s management to caution customers, in advance, of the high temperature of the coffee and the need to be careful not to get burnt.

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