Woman Files $10M Suit Vs. Starbucks
Alleges she suffered 'severe burns' from coffee
By Jamie Herzlich, Newsday

In a case with echoes of a famous suit against McDonald's, a Glen Cove woman has filed a $10-million claim against Starbucks, alleging she was badly burned by coffee that leaked from the container.

On the morning of May 5, Janine Arslanian bought coffee from Starbucks at 5 School Street in Glen Cove, according to court papers initially filed in October in the State Supreme Court and later moved to federal court in Central Islip. The suit says that as Arslanian received the cup, coffee "leaked and flowed from the container on the bare right hand and arm ... causing her to sustain severe burns" and suffer "permanent injury and scarring." The suit describes the injury as "extensive and gross second and third degree burns to her right hand and arm." Your fucken joking right?

No no no no no no no! Not this same bullshit again! You might think that the fact that coffee is hot is common knowledge, right? Apparently the fact that coffee is served hot is news to some litigious asshats out there though. The judge should throw her out of court and charge her for expenses incurred by frivolous lawsuit.

The issue of litigation and hot coffee became famous in 1994 when a New Mexico jury awarded more than $2 million to Stella Liebeck, who was burned by McDonald's coffee at a drive-through window after she placed the cup between her legs. A judge later reduced the bulk of the award to $480,000, and the case was then settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. Nevertheless, it helped fuel a national debate on whether consumer lawsuits were out of control and ought to be restricted.

posted by awiggins | 10:06 AM