Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
#1
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Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
Just watched this last night. It's a documentary about the infamous McDonald's hot coffee spill case. The one that outraged so many.
This should be required viewing for anyone who has ever used that case in an attempt to point out the supposed ills of our civil justice system. Did a nice job of going through what really happened (most of the 'outraged' people have no clue about the facts of the case). It also showed how big corporations used that case in their push for tort reform and what exactly tort reform means in real world application. Also talked about how much money bodies such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have donated to get pro-business lawyers elected to state high courts to uphold such legislation as damage cap statutes.
I assume it will be reaired. I think it's on HBO GO too. I definitely recommend it. And you might want to turn away when you see the burns that the coffee caused.
This should be required viewing for anyone who has ever used that case in an attempt to point out the supposed ills of our civil justice system. Did a nice job of going through what really happened (most of the 'outraged' people have no clue about the facts of the case). It also showed how big corporations used that case in their push for tort reform and what exactly tort reform means in real world application. Also talked about how much money bodies such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have donated to get pro-business lawyers elected to state high courts to uphold such legislation as damage cap statutes.
I assume it will be reaired. I think it's on HBO GO too. I definitely recommend it. And you might want to turn away when you see the burns that the coffee caused.
#2
Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
I watched this. HBO is playing it a lot. Some good points are made (particularly on the subject of forced arbitration), but overall it plays like an infomercial for trial lawyers. The tort reform spokesman was remarkably candid, and came off pretty well considering he was supposed to be the "villain" of the piece.
#3
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Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
Oh it definitely puts trial lawyers in a good light, but I think it did a good job showing how big business (because it can be so spread out) can dwarf the trial lawyers in political contributions. Yet it's the trial lawyers that usually get most of the criticism for controlling the political process.
#4
Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
#7
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Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
someone i used to know died a few years ago. she had a heart attack and went to one hospital and then was transfered again. I think the final cause of death was a blood clot. the family sued the hospital of course. even though this person was obese, smoked, in poor health and might have had diabetes. but on the bright side her husband at the time did really believe that the hospital killed his wife
#9
Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
Saw this documentary today. The burn wounds were wicked nasty. How did they sell coffee that hot and expect people to drink it?
The rest of it was really good. I don't know much about Al Franken but he seemed like a pretty intelligent guy. I don't think this was pro trial lawyers as much as it was anti-corporations. It also had that great example at the end of people voting against things that help them. Sometimes I think we're the only country that votes against its own interests.
The rest of it was really good. I don't know much about Al Franken but he seemed like a pretty intelligent guy. I don't think this was pro trial lawyers as much as it was anti-corporations. It also had that great example at the end of people voting against things that help them. Sometimes I think we're the only country that votes against its own interests.
#10
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#11
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Join Date: Jun 2014
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Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
Just watched this last night. It's a documentary about the infamous McDonald's hot coffee spill case. The one that outraged so many.
This should be required viewing for anyone who has ever used that case in an attempt to point out the supposed ills of our civil justice system. Did a nice job of going through what really happened (most of the 'outraged' people have no clue about the facts of the case). It also showed how big corporations used that case in their push for tort reform and what exactly tort reform means in real world application. Also talked about how much money bodies such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have donated to get pro-business lawyers elected to state high courts to uphold such legislation as damage cap statutes.
I assume it will be reaired. I think it's on HBO GO too. I definitely recommend it. And you might want to turn away when you see the burns that the coffee caused.
This should be required viewing for anyone who has ever used that case in an attempt to point out the supposed ills of our civil justice system. Did a nice job of going through what really happened (most of the 'outraged' people have no clue about the facts of the case). It also showed how big corporations used that case in their push for tort reform and what exactly tort reform means in real world application. Also talked about how much money bodies such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have donated to get pro-business lawyers elected to state high courts to uphold such legislation as damage cap statutes.
I assume it will be reaired. I think it's on HBO GO too. I definitely recommend it. And you might want to turn away when you see the burns that the coffee caused.
#12
Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
When did it happen? I think it was about 15 years ago... If McD's was going to get a back-lash in sales I think it would have happened by now.
#13
Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
(Looks it up) It was 20 years ago.
#14
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Re: Hot Coffee -- HBO documentary
I think McD's rationale is that many customers don't drink their coffee right away, on site. They drink it on the road, and that extra time between purchase and consumption typically cools the coffee down to just "hot" instead of "dangerously hot."
#15