Watch Hot Coffee

Most people have heard of the “Stella Awards,” which are “awarded” to people who file outrageous and frivolous lawsuits, named after Stella Liebeck, the plaintiff in the famous McDonald’s case who, in 1992, was severely burned by a cup of McDonald’s coffee ordered at a drive thru. This case, as well as the decades long campaign funded by tobacco, pharmaceutical and insurance companies, has served to convince the American public that there are too many frivolous lawsuits, that the civil justice system is out of control, and that it is the American public that will foot the bill for all of the runaway verdicts.

One year ago, in her documentary film, Hot Coffee, film maker Susan Saladoff told the story of what really happened to Stella Liebeck and others who fought for justice. Hot Coffee tells the other side of the Stella Liebeck story and illustrates how big business and the tort reform movement has used lies and deception to spin this and other stories to create the perception that our legal system is in fact spinning out of control. After seeing Hot Coffee, you decide who really profited from spilling hot coffee.

You catch watch Hot Coffee on HBO GO through 12/31/12. To lean more about the film, click here.