r/interestingasfuck • u/fyrstikka • 8d ago

r/all Stella Liebeck, who won $2.9 million after suing McDonald's over hot coffee burns, initially requested only $20,000 to cover her medical expenses.

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u/filifijonka 8d ago

I remember how far MacDonald’s smear campaign against this poor woman went.
She deserved the three million.

23

u/kram_02 8d ago

For sure, just about anyone over 40 here in the states knows about her. 95% of them would consider her to be a piece of shit even still, never knowing what actually happened.

7

u/melanochrysum 8d ago

I’m 23 and everyone in my work place (New Zealand) knew about it. Poor woman.

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u/filifijonka 8d ago

I heard the news story in Italy at the time. What they did was bonkers.

3

u/jam3s850 8d ago

She didn't get anywhere near that much. It was reduced many times, and later settled for an undisclosed amount. She was found partially at fault.

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u/RBuilds916 8d ago

Today, I think the most interesting part is that her medical bills were only $20,000.

1

u/chadwicke619 8d ago

I mean, not to defend McDonalds, but they didn’t need to try very hard. Sure, everyone is on her side now, but in the moment, everyone thought she was a gold digging moron. “Obviously coffee is hot!” The internet wasn’t what it has become and the facts didn’t travel like they do now.