Hot Coffee...

Ever heard of the woman who spilled coffee from McDonald's in her lap, sued them, and won millions?  Her name was Stella Liebeck...the cup of coffee was 180 degrees and scalded her groin area so badly that she needed surgery and skin graphs.  Her life was never the same. Though she only sued for medical costs, a jury awarded her $2.86 million in punitive costs.  However permanent her injuries, pain, and suffering were...Stella's case has become synomous with frivilous lawsuits. 

In a powerful new documentary titled "Hot Coffee", filmmaker Susan Saladoff  showcases how this case ushered in an era of damage award caps and mandatory arbitration, and how America's big business has eroded the rights of plantiffs everywhere.

Ok...I hear you now...tort reform? mandatory abitration? award caps? This may sound like a recipe for insomnia but don't be too quick to judge (no pun intended!).  This documentary has taken Sundance by storm and was purchased by HBO...it premiered on HBO on Monday night and I loved it.  I found it completely fascinating. Saladoff does an excellent job highlighting high profile cases and explaining how the changes in our legal system has affected people... and more importantly how these changes could affect you.

So if you have HBO, check your listings. If you are a NetFlixer, put it in the que.  I highly recommend it...  you may come away from watching it angry, but you will understand your rights as a consumer, employee, plantiff much, much better. Consider it a brush-up on your legal IQ.

So watch"Hot Coffee" the movie and find out what happened to Stella Liebeck v. McDonald's Corp.  (Hint:  She never recieves her $2.86 million! Imagine that!)  And buy your coffee at Starbuck's, for pete's sake! Or better yet, brew your own! 

--Meghan