McDonald’s is being sued over a hot coffee spill, again.
This time, a San Francisco location is being accused of serving a “scalding” cup of coffee with an improperly attached lid, which allegedly resulted in the coffee pouring out on plaintiff Mable Childress’ body and causing “severe burns” after she tried drinking it.
The lawsuit, filed last week, alleged that the elderly woman is suffering from “physical pains, emotional distress and other damages.” The restaurant’s negligence was a “substantial factor” for her injuries, it alleged.
Childress also said in the lawsuit that the restaurant employees “refused” to help her, a point that the McDonald’s denied.
Half a liter of boiling water will absolutely do damage, especially if you’re restrained to a seat and can’t get away from it. The water that comes out of your tap at home is probably only in the 140s, max, and that’ll do some damage.
I’m also not certain anyone said the water was greater than 100c. I think the seminal case involved water that was 180-190 degrees F or something, and that it’s standard to be closer to 150 or so, which is essentially as hot as your tap gets at home.
OK cool.
It was me that said it can’t go above boiling, 100. I was just under the impression that it would burn of course, but third degree burns was surprising to me. Burning away the epidermis and nerves of the skin entirely seemed to me to require a much higher temperature. I guess I’m wrong, probably because of clothing holding the heat around the skin.
Thanks.