<P> Liebeck v. McDonald 's Restaurants , also known as the McDonald 's coffee case and the hot coffee lawsuit , was a 1994 product liability lawsuit that became a flashpoint in the debate in the United States over tort reform . Although a New Mexico civil jury awarded $2.86 million to plaintiff Stella Liebeck , a 79 - year - old woman who suffered third - degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald 's restaurant , ultimately Liebeck was only awarded $640,000 . Liebeck was hospitalized for eight days while she underwent skin grafting , followed by two years of medical treatment . </P>
<P> Liebeck v. McDonald 's Restaurants , also known as the McDonald 's coffee case and the hot coffee lawsuit , was a 1994 product liability lawsuit that became a flashpoint in the debate in the United States over tort reform . Although a New Mexico civil jury awarded $2.86 million to plaintiff Stella Liebeck , a 79 - year - old woman who suffered third - degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald 's restaurant , ultimately Liebeck was only awarded $640,000 . Liebeck was hospitalized for eight days while she underwent skin grafting , followed by two years of medical treatment . </P>
when was mcdonald 's sued for hot coffee
when was mcdonald 's sued for hot coffee
1994
1994