While it’s not the largest personal injury settlement, it’s certainly the most well known: A woman spilled a cup of McDonald’s hot coffee on herself and sued the company. The claim became known as frivolous, the settlement excessive, and the story exemplifying American greed. But was this case really nothing more than a perfect example of our eagerness to sue?

How the Coffee Made Contact: A Cup Heard ‘Round the World

In February 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck ordered a cup of coffee from a McDonald’s drive-through in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Liebeck wanted to add cream and sugar to her cup, but alas! Her car had no cup holders. She put the coffee between her knees as her son, who was driving, parked the car. When she removed the lid of the coffee cup to add her cream, the drink spilled, soaking through her cotton sweatpants and severely burning her thighs.

Doctors found that she suffered third-degree burns on 6% of her skin, with less serious burns on 16% of her body. She required skin grafts and stayed in the hospital for a staggering eight days. After her discharge, she required assistance from her daughter for another three weeks.

The Initial Lawsuit and Settlement Squabbles

Liebeck did not immediately take McDonald’s to court. She requested the billion-dollar company pay for her prior medical bills, expected future medical care, and her daughter’s lost wages from caring for her mother. All in all this totaled around $18,000. McDonald’s offered Liebeck $800.

At this point, Liebeck hired a personal injury attorney. McDonald’s refused to settle for a sum agreeable to her attorney, and the claim went to trial.

How Hot Should Coffee Be?

One of the biggest components of the case was how hot the coffee was kept at the time of service. McDonald’s served its coffee at 180-190 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a full 30 degrees hotter than most other restaurants. Liquids kept at those temperatures will cause permanent burns in just two seconds. McDonald’s argument was that commuters need coffee to stay hot throughout the morning, so it served beverages warmer than most others.

Liebeck wasn’t the first person to argue McDonald’s coffee was too hot: In the 10 years prior to Liebeck’s incident, over 700 individuals tried to sue the company for various coffee burns. McDonald’s had settled for more than $500,000 for scalding injuries prior to this case.

The Verdict and Aftermath

After a weeklong trial, a 12-person jury used comparative negligence to find McDonald’s 80% at fault for the incident. Liebeck was partially to blame because she held the coffee improperly, but if the coffee had been served at a safe temperature, it was unlikely that she would have become permanently disfigured. A jury awarded Liebeck $160,000, plus another $2.7 million in punitive damages—Approximately how much McDonald’s makes in coffee revenue in two days. The parties eventually settled out of court for less, but the exact figure is unknown.

So what’s changed since the massive lawsuit? Not much for the coffee industry. McDonald’s still serves its coffee above 180 degrees, as do other major producers like Starbucks. McDonald’s did change its coffee packaging to firmly warn consumers that the product is indeed hot. McDonald’s supplier also modified the coffee cups to be less prone to serious spills and leaks.

Lessons to be Learned From Liebeck

The issue here was not that the company needed to change its coffee, but rather its regard for consumers’ health. McDonald’s dug its own grave by offering Liebeck just $800 after incurring more than $10,000 in medical bills.

Of course, most personal injury claims never reach the seven-figure mark. Corporations like McDonald’s also have some of the best legal experts available working on dismissing any suits. But when serious injuries do occur and companies refuse to acknowledge the fact that they may be partially to blame, it can mean big settlements for claimants and personal injury attorneys alike.