The Stella Awards

[Jackalope]

I'm skeptical.

Let's see some reputable news sources naming these people. Else, I call bullshit.

I agree. That last one sounds exactly like an urban legend that I first heard at least 20 years ago.

[Doubting Thomas]

I'm skeptical.

Let's see some reputable news sources naming these people. Else, I call bullshit.

I agree. I've read too many of these to just believe them without checking Snopes.

And like Cthulhu, I've heard that " they set the cruise control and went in the back to make a sandwich" story many, many times in many different ways. One of the characteristics of an urban legend is that you hear the same story in various ways with so many different details that makes it unlikely that all versions of the story could be true, and probably none of them are.

[Minimalist]

Fuck....I guess its time to post this.

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm

There is a lot of hype about the McDonalds' scalding coffee case. No one is in favor of frivolous cases of outlandish results; however, it is important to understand some points that were not reported in most of the stories about the case. McDonalds coffee was not only hot, it was scalding -- capable of almost instantaneous destruction of skin, flesh and muscle. Here's the whole story.

Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson's car when she was severely burned by McDonalds' coffee in February 1992. Liebeck, 79 at the time, ordered coffee that was served in a styrofoam cup at the drivethrough window of a local McDonalds.

After receiving the order, the grandson pulled his car forward and stopped momentarily so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to her coffee. (Critics of civil justice, who have pounced on this case, often charge that Liebeck was driving the car or that the vehicle was in motion when she spilled the coffee; neither is true.) Liebeck placed the cup between her knees and attempted to remove the plastic lid from the cup. As she removed the lid, the entire contents of the cup spilled into her lap.

The sweatpants Liebeck was wearing absorbed the coffee and held it next to her skin. A vascular surgeon determined that Liebeck suffered full thickness burns (or third-degree burns) over 6 percent of her body, including her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. She was hospitalized for eight days, during which time she underwent skin grafting. Liebeck, who also underwent debridement treatments, sought to settle her claim for $20,000, but McDonalds refused.

During discovery, McDonalds produced documents showing more than 700 claims by people burned by its coffee between 1982 and 1992. Some claims involved third-degree burns substantially similar to Liebecks. This history documented McDonalds' knowledge about the extent and nature of this hazard.

Apparently, internet assholes think an email is superior to sitting in on a trial and listening to the evidence!

[Autumnlicious]

I've added a notice, but for 'Last post' clickers, the OP is a fun-to-read load of shit.

http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

[Doubting Thomas]

Thank goodness for Snopes. I think there should be a law that before anyone forwards a "pass this on" email, they should have to verify the information through snopes.com.

[AthiestAtheist]

The reality of this case is far different than what this internet bullshit has been spouting for years.

They covered this quite well on the Daily Show recently, and would like to embed the video if I could find it. Basically, the fact is that McDonalds was serving coffee that was not only hot, but hotter than legally allowed.

[Tempus]

Fuck....I guess its time to post this.

...

Apparently, internet assholes think an email is superior to sitting in on a trial and listening to the evidence!

Beat me to it. Just another example of why we should withhold judgement until we're familiar with the facts.

[Minimalist]

Just another example of why we should withhold judgement until we're familiar with the facts.

Oh....where would that leave the jesus freaks?

[Tempus]

Oh....where would that leave the jesus freaks?

Reality, probably.