In 1994 a lawsuit filed by a 79-year-old woman who was severely burned by a hot cup of McDonald’s coffee became a turning point for tort reform. The case, Stella Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants, et al. a jury in New Mexico awarded Stella Liebeck $2.9 million in damages, but the judge reduced the award to $640,000, and the litigation later settled under confidential terms.
Now, in Texas, a Harris County man has filed a negligence suit against Jack in the Box Inc., alleging he received burns in the groin area when a clerk spilled coffee on him when attempting to hand him a cup at the drive-through line.
Altaf Abro alleges in the petition he filed in the 281st District Court that he purchased the coffee on Jan. 12 from a Jack in the Box restaurant on Spencer Highway in South Houston.
He alleges that, after he paid for the coffee, “Defendant’s employee improperly handled the large cup of hot coffee and spilled it on Plaintiff’s groin-area while attempting to hand it to him.”
Abro alleges he was treated for burns to his groin afterward at a nearby hospital.
