"Everyone knew the one about the hot coffee, but some of these..."

That actually was a tragic thing. :-( The fact is, the woman suffered severe 2nd and 3rd degree burns. But in retaliation for losing their case and having to admit their dangerous practices, despite the fact they knew people, and employees, have been suffering severe burns for years, they dragged her name through the mud. They made the woman, and her family, a laughing stock. They harassed her and her family until her family had to go into hiding and she died in shame.

She was an older woman, a grandmother. She was riding in the passenger seat, her grandson was driving. They pulled over and was in the parking lot sitting still. The car had no cup holders so she had to set the cup on the seat so she could get the top off and add her cream and sugars. The cup jostled and spilled all over her lap. Along her groin, lower stomach, and genital area, she gained massive 2nd and 3rd degree burns and required multiple skin-graft operations. The lower half of her body was permanently disfigured and she lived, permanently, with pain.

She originally asked McDonalds only to pay the medical bills, nothing more. Not only did they refuse, but they only offered $80 and a coffee coupon. So they were taken to court. Though they pulled every dirty trick they could, the court, seeing the horrors of the medical reports, and the fact that McDonalds policy was to have the coffee at scalding temperatures so hot they created instant burns, they fined the restaurant chain. They were ordered to pay the woman the equivalent of 1 full day's worth of coffee sales.

Unlike what was reported in the news and the smear against her, she did NOT end up a millionaire. In the end, all McDonalds paid was her legal fees, her medical bills, and about $6,000 (USD) for pain and suffering. And, because of that, they made sure her life was so miserable she and her family barely can go outside without being mocked.