Posted by Leonardo Terzulli.
McDonald’s has recently been involved in a case of a customer, Lynn Gipson, having hot water spill on her at a McDonald’s drive-through. The incident happened in 2012 when a cup’s lid popped off, “spilling the scalding water and causing second-degree burns on Ms. Gipson’s thigh and stomach,” a quote from the court documents. This incident is similar to the 1994 incident when Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s in the case Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants in which a top to a coffee lid came off in between Liebeck’s legs causing severe burn injuries with resulted in skin grafting. The turnout for this case was Liebeck was awarded $2.86 million. Gipson is alleging that McDonald’s drive-through employees delivered tea and other hot liquid substances in a negligent matter.
Unlike the case the in 1994, McDonald’s is most likely opting to not take the case to court and settle. The turnout for the 1994 case ended in the jury calling for McDonald’s to pay punitive damages. Knowing that they have faced a few court cases already this year, and that they will probably lose this case again, they feel the best choice for them is to just settle with Gipson’s terms. Although the case is still not fully resolved, it is safe to say that McDonald’s is going to lose. Similar to the 1994 case, this is a case that might seem a little obscure but, Lynn Gipson exerted all of her options, taking into account all actions by both parties, and taking the educated step to ensure she was given justice.
Leonardo is a finance major at the Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, Class of 2018.