Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

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Liebeck vs McDonald's – The million dollar lawsuit

Infographer

32K views 6 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear “a million dollar lawsuit,” what kinds of events do you imagine could cause it?
What do you already know (or think you know) about the McDonald’s hot coffee case?
Do you think companies should be responsible for injuries caused by their products? Why or why not?

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Liebeck vs McDonald's – The million dollar lawsuit

What happened and how serious the injuries were (00:00 – 01:33)

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1. Where was the coffee cup placed right before it spilled?

On the floor of the car
On the dashboard
Between her knees
In a cup holder

2. What type of burns did the hospital determine she had suffered?

Third-degree burns on part of her skin
Second-degree burns on most of her body
Only first-degree burns
No burns, only bruises

3. How long did she remain in the hospital?

Three weeks
Two days
Two years
Eight days

Liebeck vs McDonald's – The million dollar lawsuit

Settlement attempts and the lawsuit (01:33 – 02:26)

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1. About how many previous reports of injury from McDonald’s coffee had the company received?

None
More than 7,000
More than 70
More than 700

2. How much did Liebeck initially offer to settle for (to cover medical expenses and lost income)?

$300,000
$90,000
$20,000
$800

3. What did the lawsuit accuse McDonald’s of (according to the transcript)?

False advertising
Breaking a contract with suppliers
Tax fraud
Gross negligence for selling coffee that was unreasonably dangerous

Liebeck vs McDonald's – The million dollar lawsuit

Trial evidence, verdict, and damages (02:26 – 04:40)

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1. What temperature range did McDonald’s require franchisees to hold coffee at (as stated in the video)?

140–160°F
180–190°F
160–170°F
200–212°F

2. According to the expert testimony described, about how quickly may 190°F coffee produce third-degree burns requiring skin grafting?

About 3 seconds
About 2 minutes
About 30 seconds
About 10 minutes

3. How did the jury divide responsibility for the incident?

McDonald’s 50%, Liebeck 50%
McDonald’s 100%, Liebeck 0%
McDonald’s 20%, Liebeck 80%
McDonald’s 80%, Liebeck 20%

Liebeck vs McDonald's – The million dollar lawsuit

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the main purpose of the video’s “simplified story”?

To teach people how to make coffee at home
To advertise McDonald’s products
To show how to become a lawyer
To explain what happened in Liebeck vs McDonald’s and why it went to court

2. Which idea is emphasized as important to the case?

The car manufacturer was sued for the lack of cup holders
The restaurant refused to sell coffee to older customers
Coffee was served at a temperature that could cause serious burns quickly
The cup was made from metal

3. What does the verdict illustrate through “comparative negligence”?

Settlements are required before any trial
Only businesses can be legally at fault
Responsibility can be shared between more than one party
Juries always award punitive damages

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Liebeck vs McDonald's – The million dollar lawsuit

In your opinion, what is a reasonable temperature to serve coffee at in a restaurant? Why?
Do you agree with the idea of “comparative negligence” in accidents like this? Explain.
Should companies change policies after repeated reports of injuries? What should trigger change (number of cases, severity, media attention, etc.)?
How do you think media headlines can change public understanding of a lawsuit like this one?