Woman sues McDonald’s after hot coffee spills on her lap (not again)

KDVR, Fox 31, Denver ^ | 3:54 pm, October 25, 2013 | David Mitchell

[Gator113]

LOL.... Good job. ;>)

[Conservative4Ever]

I utilize mcds drive up frequently for beverages. I’m not too much younger that the woman in the article, I drive a jeep Cherokee and in no way is it possible for me to get close enough for the beverage to be handed to me while my arm/hand is in my vehicle. I have to reach for it with my arm extended and a no mans land space before the cup/bottle is inside the vehicle and over my lap. Maybe I’m not understanding what happened.

[vetvetdoug]

I bought a large coffee from McDonald’s yesterday, added sugar and cream and it was around 15 minutes before I could even sip it. I never thought about dumping it in my lap so I could get a payout. I wonder if common sense ever plays out in people that are too stupid to handle hot coffee carefully?

[Olog-hai]

I prefer to call it “liberal laziness” myself. Drive-throughs apparently emerged sometime in the 1930s, a time when liberalism was on the rise in response to the Great Depression.

I grew up with all the fast food restaurants being walk-up places anyhow; the only time I use the drive-through is during lunchtimes at work when I’m pressed for time, otherwise I prefer to still walk in.

[Hoodat]

I was driving a truck once and set a fresh hot cup of coffee I had just purchased at Arby's on the dash. I hit a bump and the entire cup spilled onto my ankle. I pulled over, pulled my shoe and sock off, and watched as blisters began to form on my ankle as the minutes passed. I was badly burned and had to turn the top of my shoe out and tape it down for the next week just so I could work.

In all of that, I never once considered suing anyone over it. When I bought hot coffee, I expected hot coffee. And the only reason I got burned was through my own actions. It wasn't Arby's fault.

[Flag_This]

"...the only time I use the drive-through is during lunchtimes at work when I’m pressed for time, otherwise I prefer to still walk in."

I would say that my use of the drive-thru pretty much matches yours - I only have so much time to eat, so I need to get it and go...back to work. I think my initial response was just a knee-jerk reaction to the words "American laziness" because, as I said, I'm trying to get back to work as quickly as possible- laziness doesn't enter the equation. Also, I'd prefer to listen to talk-radio in my car, rather than muzak in the restaurant.

I think it is also ironic that places like McDonald's initially designed their interiors to encourage their patrons to hurry up and get out. Things are changing now, but it used to be that they didn't want you hanging around long after you ate.