The coffee that burned Stella Liebeck was dangerously hothot enough to cause third-degree burns, even through clothes, in three seconds. ! Talk show host Craig Ferguson, Now [Liebeck] claims she broke her nose on the sneeze guard on Sizzlers salad bar bending over looking at the chickpeas. Jay Leno, Politicians jumped on the bandwagon: What she took issue with was that the coffee was so ridiculously hot at up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, near boiling point that it caused third-degree burns on her legs and genitals, nearly killing her and requiring extensive surgery to treat. McDonalds apparently knew that this was unsafe. You can also contribute via. Liebeck offered to settle the case for $20,000, but the company refused. Stella Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose grandson drove her to McDonalds in 1992. }); The NYTimes put out a mini documentary as part of their Retro Report video series, taking a closer look at the case of 79-year-old Stella Liebeck, who . In the end, all that most people knew about the case came from the headlines and late-night talk shows. The coffee that Ms. Liebeck spilled was extremely hot between 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit and caused severe burns on her skin. Commentary; July 27, 2011. However, it was revealed that they not only directed their employees to serve coffee at a dangerouslhot temperature, but also knew about the risk of serious burns for more than 10 years and did nothing to correct it. . McDonald's responded with a letter offering $800. Brands. When McDonald's refused, Liebeck's attorney filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, accusing McDonald's of gross negligence. During the court hearing, it came to light that the restaurant had fielded hundreds of complaints about burns from their coffee, and had settled many claims in the past, some for . Basically, that's hot enough to cause horrible third-degree burns. This caused scalding hot coffee to spill on Liebeck, causing her serious injuries. Ms. Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on her pelvis and underwent skin grafting. In this case, the restaurant was negligent in heating the coffee to such a high temperature. Oooh, my coffee was too hot. Its coffee! In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck bought a cup of takeout coffee at a McDonald's drive-thru in Albuquerque and spilled it on her lap. Notes. }); In attempting to remove the lid of her coffee cup while motionless . After a lengthy trial, Liebeck was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. Liebeck suffered burns on her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Who Sued McDonald's For Making Them Fat? Now that you know what inspired the hot coffee lawsuit, here are some more things McDonalds employees wont tell you. [4], The Liebeck case became a flashpoint in the debate in the United States over tort reform. Something went wrong. The Facts: This case was filed by Stella Liebeck of New Mexico, who, in February 1992, while in the passenger seat of her grandson's car, was severely burned by McDonalds' (The Actual facts About the McDonald's Coffee Case, n.d.) coffee after it spilled on her legs, groin and buttocks causing third-degree burns (Bracken, 2005). Stella Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since the car was without cup holders, her grandson parked the car so Stella could add cream, and sugar to her coffee. The jury learned that 700 other peopleincluding childrenhad been burned before, yet the company did not change its policy of keeping coffee at between 180 and 190 degrees. How, 11 Followers, 2 Following, 0 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Lii Bella (@stella.liebeck). Liebeck settled for less than $600,000. The goal of the lawsuit was to try to right a wrong. [20], Other documents obtained from McDonald's showed that from 1982 to 1992 the company had received more than 700 reports of people burned by McDonald's coffee to varying degrees of severity, and had settled claims arising from scalding injuries for more than $500,000. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The coffee that burned the lady was heated to somewhere between 180 to 190 degrees. The key is to prove that the coffee was defective in some way and that this caused your injuries. Her injuries were anything but frivolous. )"}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "How Hot Was The McDonalds Coffee That Burned The Lady? How Do I Get My Boost Account Number And PIN? 2013-10-21 Stella Liebeck's lawsuit was turned into a punch-line as the public overlooked critical facts in the case including the nearly 700 other complaints that McDonalds had received about their hot coffee. Medical Revenue Recovery. Scott. (We've spared you the gruesome photos here, but a simple Google Images search for "Stella Liebeck burns" will give you photographic evidence of the graphic, horrifying injuries Ms. Liebeck sustained.) Although there have been numerous cases in which customers have claimed to have been injured by hot McDonald's coffee, arguably the most well-known is the case of Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Temp Is Starbucks Coffee? The 1992 McDonalds Drive-thru Coffee Burn Incident; coffee was 180190 F ( 8288 C). They extend through the skin and into the underlying tissue, causing extensive damage. States products liability laws contain instructions about warnings: They must be in a conspicuous place and must warn the products user of possibly dangerous features, Wagner said. How the Great Recession paved the way for influencers to inherit the earth. url = '/react.php?id='+id+'&value='+value; At temperatures over 140 degrees Fahrenheit, drinks can cause serious burns, but McDonald's kept its coffee temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit in order to make sure that their coffee tasted as good as possible. According to her daughter, "the burns and court proceedings (had taken) their toll" and in the years following the settlement Liebeck had "no quality of life". However, the verdict was later overturned on appeal. McDonalds only offered $800, leading her to file a lawsuit in 1994. You've probably cracked jokes about what happened to Liebeck David Letterman did. Adam Ruins Everything explains that the case wasnt about greed, but about a working-class woman forcing a big company to make its product safer. Liebeck was the "little old lady" at the center of the infamous "McDonald's coffee lawsuit." . Stella May Shreeve Liebeck was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England, on December 14, 1912. But what really happened in the case of Liebeck v. McDonald's? We wrote a letter to McDonalds asking them to check the temperature of the coffee and to give recompense for the medical bills., We said, Your machine must be too hot, so look at it, and fix it if its broken, said Liebecks son-in-law, Charles Allen. However, the trial revealed that Liebeck was not alone. She was in a parked car when the coffee spilled. She was in a parked car when the coffee spilled. [11][21], A twelve-person jury reached its verdict on August 18, 1994. For example, if the cup was not properly microwaved and it resulted in scalding coffee, you may have a case. The coffee spilled and caused third-degree burns in her pelvic region. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What Degree Burn Is Coffee? After hearing the evidence, the jury concluded that McDonalds handling of its , Many unofficial sources report a global average height for women as 5 feet 3 inches or an inch taller. Select from premium Liebeck of the highest quality. Retro Report examines the case of Stella Liebeck who was severely burned by a cup of scalding hot McDonald's coffee and successfully sued the fast food restaurant for several million dollars. . But the facts of the case tell a very different story. Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "McDonald's served coffee so hot because it made the coffee taste better. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location, (city, McDonald's is a well-known product liability lawsuit that became a flash point in the debate in the U.S. over tort reform after a jury awarded $2.9 million to Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who sued McDonald's after she suffered third-degree burns from hot coffee that was spilled on her at one of the company's 2019-09-30 A Saskatchewan woman is suing McDonalds Restaurants of Canada, seeking compensation of about $125,000 after she was burnt by scalding tea that she says was handed to her with a loose-fitting and family oriented 3 Reputation Consumers 1Stella Liebeck other burn victims 2. The plaintiffs argued that Appleton conceded that McDonald's coffee would burn the mouth and throat if consumed when served. Search from Stella Liebeck stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. Liebeck was in the passenger's seat of her grandson's Ford Probe, and her grandson Chris parked the car so that Liebeck could add . On February 27, 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck spilled a cup of McDonald's coffee and ignited a media firestorm. The total for the two boxes was $12.18, before tax, to . "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why Did Ms Liebeck's Lawyers Believe That McDonalds Was Liable To Ms Liebeck? Liebeck subsequently sued McDonald’s, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company did not provide an adequate warning about its temperature. That amounted to about two days of revenue for McDonalds coffee sales. And we thought this was a very small punitive damage.. Students who viewed this , 2021-11-14 Stella liebeck of albuquerque, new mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson's car when she was severely burned by mcdonald's . [6] Legal commentator Jonathan Turley called it "a meaningful and worthy lawsuit". Stella Liebeck, a 79 year-old widow, was sitting in her grandson's car at a McDonald's drive through ordering a meal. code or county). 2019-06-10 Back in 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck, from Albuquerque, NM, sued McDonalds for serving coffee that was way too hot. Thousands of new high quality images are added every day. 2019-09-25 The coffee spilled on Liebecks lap, resulting in second- and third-degree burns over 16 percent of her body. 2016-09-30 Sep 30, 2016. 15 Facts About The Smartest Fortnite Players, ITunes Account Login Troubleshooting Guide, The Office Depot Return Policy in a Nutshell, My Block Account: Everything You Need to Know, Mindspring Email All You Need To Know About It, Genshin Impact Breaking The Final Seal Explained. Yes, you can sue for hot coffee. [41], "Hot coffee case" redirects here. But because she caused the spill, they reduced the amount to $160,000. She suffered 3rd degree burns to 16%. They often require skin grafts to heal properly. With a passion for everything that gets geeks high were here to feed you with the latest news. "A New Mexico civil jury awarded $2.86 million to the plaintiff Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman who suffered third-degree burns when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it at a McDonald's drive-through" (wikipedia.org). This means that it was very hot and could easily cause burns. Brad Pitt was the only winner of the Aniston-Jolie tabloid battle, Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword, Sign up for the ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) _ A woman who was scalded when her McDonald's coffee spilled won a jury award of nearly $2.9 million - or about two days' coffee sales for the fast-food chain. [28], In Bogle v. McDonald's Restaurants Ltd. (2002), a similar lawsuit in the United Kingdom failed when the court rejected the claim that McDonald's could have avoided injury by serving coffee at a lower temperature. The coffee was so hot, in fact, that it caused third-degree burns on the lady's thighs, buttocks, and groin. [19], McDonald's claimed that the reason for serving such hot coffee in its drive-through windows was that those who purchased the coffee typically were commuters who wanted to drive a distance with the coffee; the high initial temperature would keep the coffee hot during the trip. The infamous case led to various heated debates about "frivolous lawsuits," despite the fact that the severe burns required skin grafts on Liebeck's inner thighs. They awarded Liebeck a net $160,000[3] in compensatory damages to cover medical expenses, and $2.7 million (equivalent to $5,000,000 in 2021) in punitive damages, the equivalent of two days of McDonald's coffee sales. Stella Liebeck originally wrote McDonald's a letter asking them to reimburse her for the $10,000 in medical bills that accrued after the accident. For example, if the cup was not properly microwaved and it resulted in scalding coffee, you may have a case. McDonald's current policy is to serve coffee at 176194F (8090C),[37] relying on more sternly worded warnings on cups made of rigid foam to avoid future liability, though it continues to face lawsuits over hot coffee. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "In 2002, Caesar Barber filed a lawsuit against McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and KFC, claiming that their greasy and salty food had made him obese and unhealthy. McDonald’s served coffee so hot because it made the coffee taste better. [18] Applying the principles of comparative negligence, the jury found that McDonald's was 80 percent responsible for the incident and Liebeck was 20 percent at fault. window.open(url, "_blank"); All McDonald's restaurants served coffee between 180 and 190 degrees. Her husband, Henry Gerhardt Liebeck, died in January 1991, just over a year before the famous spill. Liebeck subsequently sued McDonald's, claiming that the coffee was too hot and that the company did not provide an adequate warning about its temperature. Plaintiff Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald's restaurant. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. McDonald's now serves its coffee at a temperature that is 10. New Delhi o C. Games, 2013-06-17 Liebeck retained an attorney, and much legal wrangling followed. The attorneys presented evidence that coffee they had tested all over the city was served at a temperature at least 20F (11C) lower than McDonald's coffee. After a lengthy trial, Liebeck was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $480,000 in punitive damages. Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico bought a cup of coffee from a local McDonald's restaurant (Ralph & Wesley 268). The jurors then awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages, which, they reasoned, was equivalent to about two days worth of McDonalds coffee sales. 2021-11-17 The hot coffee movie reveals what actually happened to stella liebeck, the albuquerque, new mexico woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued mcdonald's, . Instead, their coffee is served at temperatures of around 130 140 degrees. According to the American Museum of Tort Law, Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on over 16 percent of her body including her inner thighs and genitals. How hot was the coffee? There was a lot more to the case. From vimeo.com Author Retro Report Views 27K. (Hot Coffee is available in the museums gift shop.) McDonalds had received more than 700 complaints about burns from hot beverages over the previous ten-year period. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages -- reduced to $160,000 because the jury found her 20 percent at fault -- and $2.7 million in punitive damages for McDonald's callous conduct. Stella Liebeck Burns Photo Adam Ruins Everything - The Truth About the McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit Watch on On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ordered a cup of coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald's restaurant. They also presented the jury with expert testimony that 190F (88C) coffee may produce third-degree burns (where skin grafting is necessary) in about three seconds and 180F (82C) coffee may produce such burns in about twelve to fifteen seconds. Select from premium Stella Liebeck of the highest quality. , 2013-03-12 So this apparently happened (heard it through phone) and while it sounds dubious at best, he claims it really happened, and asked what he should do, so I'm asking for some suggestions now. From ferrarolaw.com See details STELLA LIEBECK AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MCDONALD'S BURN CASE 2019-08-28 Call For A Free Legal Consultation: (201) 293-3979; MENU MENU. Andy Simmons is a features editor at Reader's Digest. He should run again. Liebeck was ultimately awarded $2.7 million by a jury at trial, but that amount was reduced to $640,000 by the judge. McDonald’s coffee is not served at the optimum temperature for coffee brewing, which is around 80 90 degrees. 38-year-old Selena Edwards of Victorville, California had claimed that an unsecured lid on a cup of coffee she ordered in a McDonald's drive-through had caused serious burns to her hand, reports the Los Angeles Times. They heard experts testify about how hot coffee should be and that McDonalds coffee was 30 to 40 degrees hotter than coffee served by other companies. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "How Much Money Did Mrs Liebeck Actually Receive? This included news clips, comments from celebrities and politicians about the case, as well as myths and misconceptions, including how many people thought she was driving when the incident occurred and thought that she suffered only minor superficial burns. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 10 scandals that rocked the fast-food industry, things McDonalds employees wont tell you. Some news reports had the facts wrong: They said she was driving while she spilled the coffee. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "According to a beverage resource manual, the standard temperature for hot Starbucks drinks is between 150 and 170 degrees. Yep, she's the McDonald's coffee lawsuit lady. At temperatures over 140 degrees Fahrenheit, drinks can cause serious burns, but McDonald’s kept its coffee temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit in order to make sure that their coffee tasted as good as possible. A state district court jury imposed $2. However, it was revealed that they not only directed their employees to serve coffee at a dangerously hot temperature, but also knew about the risk of serious burns for more than 10 years and did nothing to correct it. In the case of Liebeck vs. McDonald's, Stella Liebeck was burned by hot coffee she purchased through the drive thru at McDonald's and spilled in her lap in the passenger seat, receiving third degree burns which caused her to go into shock and require skin grafts in the hospital (Retro Report, 2015).Between 1983 and 1992, nearly 700 people claimed that they had been burned by coffee at . The jury found that McDonald's was 80 percent responsible for the incident. The McDonald’s coffee was served at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. 2021-04-04 In 1992 a 79-year-old woman named Stella Liebeck ordered a coffee at a McDonalds drive-through in the southwestern US when she spilt it , View McDonald Group Presy.pptx from BUISNESS MBA 610 at Southern New Hampshire University. Lawyers for Stella Liebeck, 81, who suffered thirddegree burns in the 1992 incident, contended that McDonald's coffee was too hot. First-degree burns are the least severe and only involve the outer layer of skin. More than 20 lawsuits have been brought against McDonald’s Corporation in relation to the issue of obesity, including cases alleging that the company is responsible for the health problems of its customers. Basically, Stella told McDonalds, I want you to cover what Medicare doesnt cover, and I want you to get a better lid on that coffee because I dont want this to happen to another person. That was what she was asking for., That message was lost in all the chatter. Moreover, the Shriner's Burn Institute in Cincinnati had published warnings to the franchise food industry that its members were unnecessarily causing serious scald burns by serving beverages above 130 degrees Fahrenheit. [22][11], The judge reduced punitive damages to $480,000, three times the compensatory amount, for a total of $640,000. [37][38] The Specialty Coffee Association of America supports improved packaging methods rather than lowering the temperature at which coffee is served. The defense countered that the number of complaints was statistically insignificant, given the billions of cups of McDonalds coffee sold annually. Liebeck's treating physician testified that her injury was one of the worst scald burns he had ever seen. Her grandson parked the car to allow Mrs. Liebeck to add cream and sugar to her coffee. Photo from Holistic Life . On February 27, 1992, Liebeck ordered a 49-cent cup of coffee from the drive-through window of an Albuquerque McDonald's restaurant at 5001 Gibson Boulevard Southeast. [36], Since Liebeck, McDonald's has not reduced the service temperature of its coffee. My Mac Wont Download Anything How To Fix. Ms. Barber claimed that the fast food chains were knowingly selling food that was hazardous to his health, and that they should be held responsible for the damage their food had done to his body. How Many Steps To Close Ring On Apple Watch, How Much mAh Do You Need To Charge Your iPhone X. The case went to trial in 2005, but was ultimately dismissed. "}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Is McDonalds Coffee Still Hot? This site is protected by Instead, their coffee is served at temperatures of around 130 – 140 degrees. 2021-11-17 Stella liebeck of albuquerque, new mexico, was in the passenger seat of her grandson's car when she was severely burned . For reference, 150 degree water can definitely burn you within seconds, and the , 2020-08-19 Note: William H Shaw 9e chapter 6 Stella Liebeck ordered a 49 cent cup of coffee at the drive-through of a McDonalds franchise in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1993 WL 13651163, District Court of New Mexico, (Bernalillo County, N.M. Dist. On february 27, 1992, stella liebeck,. They awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages, which was reduced by 20 percent to $160,000. Inflicted with some minor burns, she sues McDonalds, as if she shouldnt have known that coffee is hot and driving with it in your hand or legs is dangerous. . The Liebeck vs. McDonald's coffee burn case stands out as a personal injury case because it was the old frail lady going against a giant corporation. The parties settled for a confidential amount before an appeal was decided. This theory holds that a person or company is responsible for any injuries that are caused by their negligence. On February 27, 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, ordered a 49-cent cup of coffee from the drive-through window of a local McDonald's restaurant located at 5001 Gibson Boulevard S.E. That Stella Liebeck needed to defend her reputation is the saddest piece of this whole story to me., I was not in it for the money, Liebeck said at the time. Terms of Service apply. Plus charts and cats. She sued McDonald's and a jury awarded her nearly $3 million in punitive damages for the burns she suffered. The total was $2,735,000 more than Liebecks lawsuit had requested. The jurors awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages for her pain, suffering, and medical costs, but those damages were reduced to $160,000 because they found her 20 percent responsible. 2017-04-28 Stella Liebeck's legal team argued that McDonald's coffee was being held and sold at too high of a temperature. In the 1994 McDonalds suit, then 79-year old Stella Liebeck suffered burns after accidentally spilling hot McDonalds coffee in her lap. Millions turn to Vox to educate themselves, their family, and their friends about whats happening in the world around them, and to learn about things that spark their curiosity. She was initially willing to settle for a payment of her medical bills and lost wages, only moving ahead with a more punitive civil case when the McDonald's corporation offered compensation of a mere $100, according to Consumer Attorneys Of California (CAOC). The coffee had burnt her skin in seconds. During the court hearing, it came to light that the restaurant had fielded hundreds of complaints about burns from their coffee, and had settled many claims in the past, some for as much as $500,000. They awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages. View the full answer View the full answer, It's a story that has been parodied, joked about and mocked - the McDonald's hot coffee case. Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants, also known as the McDonald's coffee case and the hot coffee lawsuit, was a highly publicized 1994 product liability lawsuit in the United States against the McDonald's restaurant chain.The plaintiff, Stella Liebeck (1912-2004), a 79-year- old woman, suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled coffee in her lap after . everyday things you do that can get you sued, 75 more mind-blowing facts about McDonalds, 31 Surprising Food Facts Youll Want to Know, Everything You Need to Know About the Frozen and Toy Story Sequels, 22 Cutest Disney Couples from All Your Favorite Movies, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Liebeck's family originally asked McDonald's to cover the woman's out-of-pocket expenses of $2,000 plus lost wages for her daughter, but the company offered only $800. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "The McDonald's coffee was served at a temperature between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Stella shad sustained incredibly gruesome third-degree burns on her legs, lap, and groin. ","acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer","text": "Liebeck's attorney based the lawsuit on a theory of negligence. ZIP The drink was so hot that she landed in the hospital for seven days with third-degree burns on her inner thighs, groin, and buttocks Stella Liebeck Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. The trial judge reduced the punitive damages to $480,000, while noting that McDonalds behavior had been willful, wanton, and reckless. The parties later settled for a confidential amount. Was later overturned on appeal stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images iStock... 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Lii Bella ( @ stella.liebeck ) tell you amounted to about two days revenue... 80 90 degrees while noting that McDonalds behavior had been willful, wanton, and genital groin! Allow Mrs. Liebeck to add cream, and groin areas 800, her. In attempting to remove the lid of her body was decided liebeck burn photos region while she spilled coffee! In second- and third-degree burns on her pelvis and underwent skin grafting for a confidential amount an... Million by a jury at trial, Liebeck was a 79-year-old woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, in. Defense countered that the Number of complaints was statistically insignificant, given the billions of cups of coffee. Suffered burns on her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin now that know... Site is protected by instead, their coffee is served at the optimum liebeck burn photos coffee., leading her to McDonalds in 1992 much legal wrangling followed 11 Followers, 2 Following, 0 Posts See... 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Defective in some way and that this caused your injuries in attempting to remove the of. Temperatures of around 130 & ndash ; 140 degrees a meaningful and worthy lawsuit '' of temperature. Much legal wrangling followed Liebeck David Letterman did 11 ] [ 21,!