Hot Coffee (1:34) 2011

Many of us remember the newspaper article about the woman who sued McDonald's after she spilled a cup of coffee she was holding between her legs. The jury awarded her over 2.7 dollars in damages. Popular thinking was she won a frivolous lawsuit. Hot Coffee reveals that the coffee she was drinking had a temperature of 170 degrees, a water temperature which causes third degree burns. The documentary also reveals that she was one of seven hundred who filed claims against McDonald's for burns received from the excess water temperature. Hot Coffee continues with an examination of tortes and torte reform. While some of the dialogue is rather technical, this is an excellent look at our legal system with regards to ordinary people trying to receive compensation for injuries.