Case brief

I have chosen very famous case called “Liebeck versus McDonald's Restaurants” because it is quite
interesting and unbelievable as well.


There were two parties, the plaintiff, Mrs. Stella Liebeck, 79-year-old woman from USA. She sued
McDonald´s corporation because she burned her skin, when she spilled hot coffee from McDonald´s.

The facts of the case are follows: In 1992, Mrs. Liebeck bought a cup of coffee from the
drive-through window of McDonald´s. She put the cup between her knees and opened the cup of the
coffee to put in a sugar and cream. Unfortunately, she spilled the coffee on her legs. She suffered
serious burns on her skin and she had to spend 8 days in the hospital.

The plaintiff sued the defendant for damages in New Mexico District Court.  The question before
court was whether the coffee was too hot. The attorneys of plaintiff discovered that McDonald´s
serve coffee at 82–88 °C. The court found out that McDonald´s received many complains because hot
coffee by customers.

The court held that defendant is guilty and plaintiff is awarded to damages. The court argued that
a warning on the cup of coffee was not large enough.