What is Your Opinion on Tort Reform?

We hope that our recent blogs shed some light on tort reform and the motives behind organizations like the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR). Tort reform advocates will only tell you half the story in order to advance their agenda. The ILR’s attempts to discredit Stella Liebeck and her landmark personal injury lawsuit against McDonald’s is just one ILR tactic filled with inaccuracies and half-truths.

For example, in the Liebeck case, the media reports boiled it down to a woman receiving a $2.7 million verdict over a cup of spilled coffee. Ask most people about the “hot coffee” case and that is what they will likely remember. However, did you know that Ms. Liebeck originally reached out to McDonald’s for a settlement that would cover her medical expenses from the severe coffee burns? In response, McDonald’s offered to pay $800.00 towards her medical expenses from the hot coffee burns. Ms. Liebeck had over $10,000 in doctor’s bills from her injury.

Ms. Liebeck contacted a personal injury lawyer to help her. A jury awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages, which the judge reduced to $480,000. The parties settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

If you suffer harm and need a personal injury lawyer, contact our office for a case review. We are happy to help you recover compensation for your injuries.