Hot Coffee, Cold Cash and Torts: Margaret Carlson
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(Corrects seventh paragraph in July 13 column to indicatedamages caps only apply to medical malpractice suits.)
July 13 (Bloomberg) -- The story of Stella Liebeck came tostand for all that is moronic about our legal system andculture. Liebeck sued McDonald’s in 1994 after spilling a 49-cent cup of coffee in her lap as she was wheeling away from adrive-thru window in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She hit theliability jackpot, winning a $2.86 million jury award ascompensation for this minor nuisance.