☕ Hot Coffee Nightmare: Georgia Senior Wins $3M Settlement from Dunkin’®
Bitter Brew: Dunkin’ Hot Coffee Ordeal Ends in $3M Settlement
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In a chilling tale of a routine coffee run gone awry, a 70-year-old Georgia woman has been awarded a $3 million settlement following a harrowing incident at a Dunkin' drive-thru in Sugar Hill, Georgia, in 2021. The ordeal unfolded when a seemingly innocuous coffee cup lid gave way, unleashing a scalding cascade onto the unsuspecting senior, causing severe second- and third-degree burns to her thighs, groin, and abdomen.
The saga echoes a prior infamous hot coffee lawsuit against McDonald's from the 90s, underscoring the lurking dangers in even the most mundane of daily tasks. The tragic turn of events has left an indelible mark on the life of the elderly woman, who, according to her attorney Benjamin Welch of Morgan & Morgan, had to relearn the art of walking and now grapples with day-to-day activities. “America may run on Dunkin, but our client had to re-learn how to walk due to the severity of her burns," Welch remarked.
The ghastly episode unfolded as the woman made her way to a local Dunkin' for her routine coffee fix. As the drive-thru employee handed over the coffee, the lid betrayed its duty, plunging the woman into a scorching ordeal. The severe burns necessitated weeks of agonizing treatment in a burn unit, altering the septuagenarian's lifestyle in a profound manner. Walking induces pain, the sun poses a threat, and a regimen of creams and ointments became her new normal, a far cry from the tranquil retirement one might envision.
John Morgan, the principal at Morgan & Morgan, expressed aspirations that this settlement will serve as a clarion to elevate customer safety to a paramount priority.
Drawing parallels to a notorious hot coffee lawsuit etched in the annals of American litigation, Morgan remarked, “Despite a landmark case revolving around scalding coffee inflicting grave burns, it appears the lesson to prioritize customer safety remains unheeded by restaurants.” He further added, “Through this settlement, we aim to amplify a message to all dining establishments and franchise operators: the mandate is straightforward—invest in adept training for your staff and uphold customer safety as a cardinal principle.”
Meanwhile, Golden Donuts, LLC, alongside Inspire Brands, the custodian of Dunkin’ Brands, remained unresponsive to the outreach from Fox News Digital seeking their commentary on the matter