Strange Country Episode 17: Liebeck vs. McDonald's

Imagine spilling blazing hot coffee on yourself, getting such terrible third-degree burns the doctors think you'll die and then being called a money-grubbing dummy. That's what happened to Stella Liebeck. She became the villain and McDonald's the victim. Not cool...literally. Strange Country cohosts Beth and Kelly decide good must prevail against evil even if it requires a whole new category of damages called "penitive damages." Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands Don't forget to give credit where credit is due: Drum, Kevin. "The Truth About Stella Liebeck." Mother Jones, 25 June 2017, www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/07/truth-about-stella-liebeck/. "Liebeck v. McDonald's." The American Museum of Tort Law, www.tortmuseum.org/liebeck-v-mcdonalds/. Saladoff, Susan, director. Hot Coffee. Amazon Video, www.amazon.com/Hot-Coffee-Susan-Saladoff/dp/B008HRPBRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508845546&sr=8-1&keywords=hot coffee documentary. Silver-Greenberg, Jessica, and Robert Gebeloff. "Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice." The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/business/dealbook/arbitration-everywhere-stacking-the-deck-of-justice.html?_r=0. Stout, Hillary. "Not Just a Hot Cup Anymore." The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/booming/not-just-a-hot-cup-anymore.html. Sweet, Ken. "Big banks score win with scrapping of consumer class-Action lawsuit rule." The Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2017, www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-consumer-class-action-lawsuit-rule-20171025-story.html.