It actually appears for once this was not the case for a lawsuit filed by an elderly woman in New Mexico. The woman was chauffeured to a local McDonald’s by her grandson to enjoy a cup of Joe. As she held on to the cup of coffee with her knees, she proceeded to remove the plastic lid to add sugar and cream. Upon removing the lid, the entire cup of scolding coffee spilled on her lap.

To add salt to the wound, after receiving 3rd degree burns, an eight day hospital stay, and undergoing skin grafts, the woman’s claim for $20, 000 was rejected by McDonald’s. If they only knew what they had coming.

Although the case was eventually settled behind close doors, the last reported settlement figure exceeded $500,000.

Source: Lectric Law Library