"GOING TO COURT TO GAIN JUSTICE IS HEROIC"
This is a quote from the trailer of "Hot Coffee," a new HBO documentary that ventures into the U.S. justice system. No doubt, the phrase "hot coffee" now conjures up thoughts of the woman that sued McDonalds and won $2.9 million dollars. The case is now a part of our pop culture, as it has been the topic of many jokes and causes many to passionately decry personal injury suits, calling for tort reform. Of course, those who know the facts of the "hot coffee" case, are not laughing.
Ms. Liebeck, the plaintiff, suffered third degree burns after she spilled coffee on herself when -- as a passenger in a stopped car -- she attempted to add cream and sugar to her coffee. Initially, she attempted to settle the case with McDonalds to cover the cost of her medical bills, which included the costs associated with spending eight days in a hospital and undergoing skin grafting and debridement procedures. She suffered permanent disfigurement. Now, the documentary "Hot Coffee" (disclaimer: I have not seen the movie yet) promises to expose the facts of the McDonalds case, and those of other ordinary Americans, who have fought against big business, public relations firms that have attempted to make a mockery out of plaintiffs like Ms. Liebeck.
For years, large corporations and insurance companies have been spending millions to convince the public that personal injury verdicts and settlements are the reason why our economy is suffering. They are wrong. They have painted attorneys as greedy and untrustworthy. Those of us in the personal injury world have been attacked, while most of us truly fight to protect the rights of victims of negligence.
I am anxious to see the documentary “Hot Coffee.” I hope that it makes audiences aware of the pain and suffering that may personal injury victims suffer everyday and that it is as successful about prying into big business’s effect on the legal system as the recent documentary “Food, Inc.” was in terms of the food industry.
“Hot Coffee" will air on June 25 on HBO.
