Liebeck vs. McDonald’s Law Essay Research Coursework (Essay Sample)

Liebeck vs. McDonald’s
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Liebeck vs. McDonald’s
The business environment is governed by laws that focus on safeguarding the welfare of consumers. Critically, the rules act as guidelines to how business should be practiced to prevent exploitation of customers. In 1994, the case of Liebeck vs. McDonald’s Restaurants was instrumental in showcasing the impact of law in the commercial sector. Specifically, the case involved an injury to the client that reflected partial negligence on the part of McDonald Restaurant, which rightfully led to the award of compensatory and punitive damages to Liebeck, making, and, therefore, the case cannot be classified as a frivolous lawsuit.
Analysis
To begin with, the incident that led to the case constituted a spillage of coffee. The accident occurred in 1992 after Stella Liebeck bought coffee from McDonald's and while traveling in a grandson’s vehicle (Weiman, 2018). Weiman clarifies that the injury arose when the grandson stopped the car in a bid to allow his grandmother an opportunity to put additives to the coffee. Unfortunately, when she opened the lid, the coffee spilled onto her lap, which led to burns on her thighs and groin. Hence, the accident led to a legal case against McDonald's as Liebeck wanted compensation for her injuries.