Assign: 4

Leg 500- Law and Ethics in the business Environment.

Product Liability Research Paper:

Select a Company that has been the subject of a product liability lawsuit in the last five (5) years.

Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants, This case was also popularized as McDonald’s coffee case. This is perhaps a 1994 most renowned liability lawsuit, which became the flashpoint in the U.S. debate reform after a jury decided to award the plaintiffs the amount of $164,000.00 just for medical expenses. Another 2.7 million were added to pay for in punitive damages. Mrs. Stella Liebeck was awarded this amount of money, because she had suffered 3rd degree burns in her pubic region when the coffee she bought from McDonald’s restaurants was spilled on her laps.

As we all know McDonald’s is one of the most famous chains of fast food restaurants around the world. The trial judge assigned to this famous case reduced the final decision (verdict) was adjudicate to a group of judges and the parties, and the amount of dollars paid was confidential, before an appeal was decided.

This case was commented by a great deal of people as a good example of frivolous litigation, For example the ABC News named this case “the poster child of excessive lawsuits.” Some others found it to be “a meaningful and worthy lawsuit.”

Legal theories used by the plaintiffs were that McDonald’s coffee is addictive” it was also too hot causing serious damages than coffee served in other public establishments. McDonald’s was therefore very reluctant to settle in other several occasions for less than $ 640,000.00 that was ultimately awarded.

Supporters of “tort reform” were claiming that the public perception of this case was completely materially correct, I myself support this ideal, and found out that McDonald’s was supposed to accept the fined amount offered to settle the case without going any farther.

A great majority of judges considered to dismiss the case before it hit the jury alleging that they have...