The McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.

Podcasts have given us a recent revisitation of the famous McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case. It is the very famous legal case of an elderly lady spilling hot coffee on herself as her son drove out of the drive-through of a McDonalds restaurant in Albuquerque New Mexico. It got plenty of attention world-wide.

Whose legal team do you think won that case? Not surprisingly, it was a team that comprised Ken Wagner. Now, fast forward more than a quarter century and you will find that The Ken Wagner Law Firm of Albuquerque has not lost its desire to help those who may not be at fault anywhere in The Great Southwest.

You can read about The McDonald’s Hot Coffee case on the website kenwagnerlaw.com. More importantly, you will see the personal injury profiles that the legal team at The Ken Wagner Law Firm prosecutes. If you or a loved one has been aggrieved, please call The Ken Wagner Law Firm in Albuquerque, NM right away at (505) 242-6300.

The famous McDonald's hot coffee case - Retro Report

Retro Report recently filmed an episode in Albuquerque about the famous McDonald's hot coffee case.  Attorney Ken Wagner led the legal team that won that landmark case.  The episode will shed light on this widely publicized, but often misunderstood, lawsuit.  It will air October 28th at 8pm on PBS.

Ken Wagner still practices personal injury law in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He is actively involved in the local community and often defends the rights of the underprivileged.

Ken Wagner Law is located in the Well Fargo building, 200 Lomas Blvd NW Suite 1112, Albuquerque, NM 87102. He can be reached for personal injury cases at (505) 242-6300 or via email on his website at kenwagnerlaw.com.  

Liebeck vs. McDonald’s Restaurants.

You may know it as the McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case, but chances are you DO know of it.  This was a landmark case in American history.  It was a 1994 product liability lawsuit in which a civil jury awarded 2.86 million dollars to plaintiff Stella Liebeck.  She suffered third-degree burns to her pelvic region when she spilled hot McDonald’s coffee in her lap.

Legal scholar Jonathan Turley (look him up) has declared the claim a “meaningful and worthy lawsuit”.  We don’t wish to take this small space to sum up the case, but suffice to say Mrs. Liebeck was in no way greedy.  She sought just $20,000 to cover her actual and anticipated expenses.  Instead, McDonalds offered a paltry $800!

When a tough defender of human rights was needed to help defend Stella Liebeck an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer was called in to help Mrs. Liebeck get a fair and equitable settlement.  That man was (and is) Kenneth Wagner.  Today Ken Wagner serves The Great Southwest from his office in ABQ.  Call the firm anytime at (505) 242-6300.

Experience…Compassion…Wagner.

Two words and one name to always remember if you have a personal injury case in the Great Southwest.  Hey, it can be dangerous out there!  When you need a friend and a law firm to fight for YOU Ken Wagner is and has been there for nearly half a century.  Isn’t that comforting to know?

Ken and his team have rightfully attained and maintained the highest attorney rating possible by Martindale Hubbell.  However, all of the experience in the world would not be enough without that intangible…compassion.  That is what separates the decent personal injury attorneys from the truly great ones!

From his Albuquerque, New Mexico office Ken Wagner and his amazing staff handle any and all types of personal injury cases.  It was Ken who was front and center to win the famous McDonalds Hot Coffee Case.  So, you know when you hire the Ken Wagner Law Firm you are teaming up with the best personal injury law firm in the Great Southwest.  Call (505) 232-6300.

Inside the McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.

Here is a clip from Adam Ruins Everything.  If you ever had a pre-conceived notion about the historic McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case this could change your perspective forever.

Back in the 1990’s the victim Stella Liebeck was widely criticized and parodied on late night television about her supposedly “frivolous” law suit.  We were bombarded with speculation and half-truths about the incident.  In the long run (a quarter century later) people still have strong opinions not only about the case, but its implications on the judicial system.

After you have viewed this three minute video clip you will probably have more knowledge about the case than you have ever had.  The bottom line is this…Ken Wagner of the Wagner Law Firm located in Albuquerque NM was one of the attorneys who won Mrs. Liebeck’s case.  Now that you know more of the facts it is very comforting to know that this courageous attorney still serves the Great Southwest.  If you have a possible personal injury claim call his office at (505) 242-6300.

The McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.

Even though it has been two decades the McDonald’s Hot Coffee case lives on in history.  If you mention it even today it conjures up all sorts of different opinions.  If you are not familiar with it, it was the product liability case of Stella Liebeck vs. McDonalds, the fast food giant.  This occurred after she spilled hot coffee in her lap.

Interestingly, Esquire Magazine has just picked up the mantle and written a fascinating article on the nearly 25-year old case.  Please check out the September addition of Esquire.  In it you will find a well-crafted retrospective entitled, “What you don’t know about the McDonald’s Hot Coffee burn case”.  If you have the opportunity, give it a careful reading.

Some quarter century later the man who successfully represented Mrs. Liebeck is still practicing in Albuquerque, New Mexico where the incident occurred.  His name is Kenneth Wagner.  Attorney Wagner and his staff are important people to have on your side if you have a personal injury case in the Great Southwest.  Call the office at (505) 242-6300. 

Medical Malpractice and its Intricacies.

So many times people believe that they have a legitimate medical malpractice case - and they do.  What they may fail to recognize is that the “other side” has deep pockets and is heavily “lawyered up”.  Therefore, the journey to recover damages from a legitimate malpractice case tends to bog down because the plaintiff (YOU) does not have the right attorney to fight all the way to the finish line.

What are some examples of medical malpractice?  Here are some that may fit your situation –

1.  Prescription error.  Did you get the correct medication in the proper dose?

2.  Injury or even death at the hospital during a birth.

3.  Misdiagnosis.  It happens more than you can imagine.

4.  An infection in the hospital.  The medical centers of this country are not as clean as you think.

5.  Failure of a medical product.  You took it or used it in good faith with disastrous results.

If you or a loved one feel that you have a decent case call Ken Wagner.  He is the Great Southwest’s medical malpractice champion.  From his office located in Albuquerque he will put his 40 years and his great staff to work to win your case.  Call the Wagner Law Office today for a free consultation at (505) 242-6300.  Consult with the best, the winner of the McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case Ken Wagner.

How the McDonald's Hot Coffee Case Began

STELLA WAS THE PASSENGER

Plaintiff Stella Liebeck was born on December 14, 1912, and was 79 years old on the morning of February 27, 1992, when her grandson drove her to a McDonald's driveup window in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to get a cup of coffee. 

THE VEHICLE WAS AT A DEAD STOP

They purchased the coffee and parked in the McDonald's parking lot.  Stella began taking the lid off of the coffee cup to add sugar and cream and spilled the coffee in her lap.  She was in excruciating pain.

THIRD DEGREE BURNS

Stella suffered second and third degree burns on her perineum, upper inner thighs, buttocks, genital areas and lower abdominal wall including the left groin.  The burns were so severe that they required painful debridement and skin grafting.  She suffered enormously.

This eventually led to New Mexico personal injury attorney Ken Wagner becoming involved.  Attorney Wagner wants you to become informed about the history of this historic case.  We will share more information in the near future.  If you feel that you may have a personal injury or medical malpractice case in the State of New Mexico or elsewhere, please call the law office of Kenneth Wagner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at (505) 242-6300.

THE MCDONALD’S HOT COFFEE CASE

Since the jury in this landmark lawsuit came back with their verdict in favor of Plaintiff Stella Liebeck in 1994, there has been an almost complete reversal of the true facts of the case by mainstream media, late-night talk show hosts and word-on-the-street until Stella’s case became a household joke.  Stella Liebeck lived through her elderly years and passed on knowing that she had become a source of ridicule all over the world.

The garbage heap of misinformation has piled high unto Heaven….UNTIL NOW!  Finally the truth is being told in films, newscasts and by educators.  One of the films is the Sundance award-winning documentary “Hot Coffee, the Movie” available on Netflix.  Perhaps Stella Liebeck tiptoed to the edge of Paradise, stuck out her toe and toppled the garbage pile.

Attorney Ken Wagner knows the real story behind this case.  He was in the courtroom himself representing Stella Liebeck.   We will return soon with genuine facts about Stella’s heroic trial of this monumental historic case which should be famous for the courage it took to right a wrong dealt to an average citizen by a large corporation instead of infamous because of a wildfire of misrepresentation.  If you have a personal injury or medical malpractice case in the State of New Mexico or elsewhere, immediately call the law office of Kenneth Wagner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at (505) 242-6300.