Name
_
Period
"Hot Coffee" Documentary Guide
Directions:
First, review the Terms to Know section to understand concepts this film will address.
Then, answer the questions in each section as you view the film.
Terms to Know
•
Punitive damages: damages exceeding simple compensation and awarded to punish
the defendant; purpose is to change behavior of the wrongdoer.
•
Tort Reform: refers to laws passed on a state-by-state basis which place limits or caps
on the type or amount of damages that may be awarded in personal injury lawsuits.
•
Caps on damages:
refers to a law that limits the amount a jury can award for damages
regardless of the facts of the case.
•
Mandatory arbitration:
a process by which parties "agree " to have a third party arbitrator
(single arbitrator or a panel), instead of a jury or judge, resolve a dispute.
•
Arbitration clause: clause in a contract that requires the parties to resolve their
disputes through an arbitration process.
Answer the following questions as you view the documentary.
Exhibit 1: The Public Relations Campaign
l .
The family of Stella Liebeck explains that there are many people with a "distorted
view" of this case. Identify at least one major misconception the public has had
about what
!hey think they know about "hot coffee" lawsuit with Stella Liebeck vs. McDonalds.
2.
Summarize the coffee burn incident that occurred with Stella Liebeck.
3.
McDonald's
first
offered
$
on
what
was
initially
a $
medical
problem.
4.
According to their manual, what was the holding temperature supposed to be for the
McDonald's water?: degrees
5.
The Stella Liebeck vs. McDonald's trial revealed that McDonald's had over __ _
previous complaints about burns from hot beverages.
6.
In what percentages did the jury assign blame in the hot coffee lawsuit
against Mc Donalds?
Liebeck: ___ %
McDonalds: %
7.
The jury awarded Mrs. Liebeck $160,000 in compensatory damages and $ __ _
million in punitive damages.
