business law

Many people have heard of the 1992 McDonald's "hot coffee" case (Liebeck v McDonald's Restaurants. Inc). It involved a woman in the passenger seat of a car that used a drive-through window at a McDonald's in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She placed a cup of coffee between her thighs when exiting the restaurant and when the driver accelerated, it spilled on her, causing third degree burns. The coffee was supposedly 190 degrees, which was alleged to be too hot. A jury awarded the plaintiff nearly $3 million. According to the National Coffee Association, "the brewing temperature of the water used is very important. It should be between 195F(91C) and 205F(96C). The closer to 205F(96C) the better. Boiling water ( 212F100C) should never be used, as it will burn the coffee. Water that is less than 195F(91C) will not extract properly." Is the problem that the coffee was served in a drive through window or was the coffee itself "too hot" when served as alleged. Should people realize coffee is hot? Isn't this like burning your fingers with matches or cutting yourself with a razor blade? Was the product "defective"? Explain your answers