yo man again?

yo man "Burned! The true story behind the hot coffee lawsuit", by Andy Simmons, from Reader's Digest March 2014 pg 90 (I don't normally buy or read this publication, I picked it up while on a military tour something to read while flying or at my destination with no phone, no internet). 27 Feb 1992, Albuquerque, NM. Stella Liebeck, 79, went through a McDonald's drive thru, her son driving a Ford Probe. Got their order, pulled over to a parking stall. Stella said she wanted to add cream and sugar before going. There are no cup holders for this make/model/year vehicle. She steadied the cup between her knees trying to get the lid off. Next thing that happened coffee goes everywhere resulting in 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 16% of her body. She was in the hospital over a week undergoing skin grafts. Next, she gets a $10,000 medical bill. They contacted McDonald's about the temperature of their coffee, McDonald's offered them $800. Liebeck contacted a lawyer who initiated a lawsuit for $125,000. Turns out McDonald's required coffee to be brewed between 195-205*F, and serve it 180-190*F. "Because "...flavor." This opened a further investigation that by that time there had been over 700 complaints in the previous 10 years. The next part is interesting from a statistical point of view. 700 complaints is insignificant, McDonald's rationed, against billions of cups of coffee they serve. After viewing all the evidence and testimony, the jury awarded $200,000 but reduced it to $160,00 because "...she caused the spill." But, they then awarded her $2.7mil in punitive damages, which is (was) about "2 days of coffee sales." ( 🙄 OMG, McDonald's was set back 2 days in profits). "Ah, but wait, there's more. Of course there always is..." The $2.7mil was reduced to $650,000 then again down to $500,000. The rest is history. This lady was raked over the coals and the media exaggerated, twisted, and outright lied about the story. People also get their opinions from late night TV jokes, so that further twisted the truth. I guess I could have copied and pasted the article as my "summary" now looks about as long as the original, but I'm no plagiarizer. But the last item to note, the last sentence in the article states "McDonald's now serves its coffee at a temperature that is 10 degrees lower." .......... and now you know ......... THE REST OF THE STORY.