A Georgia woman who was severely burned by her hot cup of coffee served to her at a Dunkin’ drive-thru has been awarded $3 million in a lawsuit settlement.
The 70-year-old woman was burned by the coffee so badly that she had to re-learn how to walk and still struggles with day-to-day activities after being served the coffee in February 2021, her attorney Benjamin Welch said in a release.
According to Welch, who works for the law firm Morgan & Morgan, the woman visited the Dunkin’ location and was given a cup of coffee through the drive-thru. But shortly after, the lid came off, spilling the burning-hot liquid on her, causing second- and third-degree burns to her thighs, groin, and abdomen.
“America may run on Dunkin, but our client had to re-learn how to walk due to the severity of her burns,” Welch said. “Her burns were so severe that she spent weeks in the burn unit at Grady Health and has had to entirely alter the way she lives her life. Walking still causes her pain, she can’t go out in the sun, and she must apply creams and ointments to her burns several times a day.”
The injuries that the 70-year-old suffered left her not only injured but also with over $200,000 in medical bills, Welch shared.
The lawsuit argued that if the workers at the Dunkin’ had properly secured the lid on the cup, then the issue would never have happened.
On Tuesday, the franchisee that operates the Dunkin’ location where the woman was burned, Golden Donuts, LLC, agreed to a $3 million settlement to compensate her for her injuries and the impact the incident has had on her life.
Josh Morgan, the founder of Morgan & Morgan, said he hopes the settlement with his firm’s client results in more restaurants prioritizing their customer’s safety.
“One of the most famous lawsuits in American history centers around scalding coffee that caused severe burns. Yet restaurants still have failed to learn their lesson to prioritize customers’ safety,” Morgan said. “We hope this settlement sends a message to all restaurants and franchisees: this isn’t complicated; train your employees properly and prioritize customer safety.”
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok