Actually, I do know about it - I have read all that before, and I remain convinced of the following:Never let the facts get in the way of a good story
The McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case
It is the case that gave rise to the attacks on “frivolous lawsuits” in the United States. Almost everyone seems to know about it. And there’s a good chance everything you know about it is wrong.
The victim was a complete t**t to put a hot cup of coffee between her thighs, sitting in a car, trying to take the lid off.
The jurors were all complete t**ts for ignoring one very simple fact:
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HOT DRINK.
Not warm - HOT.
Tea, for example, has to be made with BOILING water. Not warm, not 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, but 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
If made with water not hot enough, or if made with boiling water and then stored at a lower temperature it becomes not fit for purpose.
If somebody sold me stale tea at a lukewarm temperature I would reject it.
When I make, or buy, a hot drink I treat it accordingly and do not do stupid things with it.
The proper outcome of that case should have been a loud and clear message that if you do something stupid and get hurt it is your fault, not the fault of the person who gave you the thing which hurt you when you did something stupid with it.
The message should have been that it behoves people to grow some common sense, to think about WTF they are doing, not to do stupid things, and not to go through life blithely assuming that risk analysis is always somebody else's responsibility, and that if they don't warn you not to do something stupid you can't be blamed if you do.
