The coffee temperature was found to be excessively high, resulting in third-degree burns on 16 percent of Stella’s body.
The burns were so severe that her inner thighs and genital area were affected, with skin damage revealing muscle and fatty tissue layers.
Following the incident, Stella was hospitalized for eight days and underwent extensive treatments, including skin grafts. The NHS describes this as taking healthy skin from one part of the body to cover damaged areas.
During her hospitalization, Stella lost about 20 pounds, accounting for nearly 20 percent of her body weight.
Her recovery took two years, and a lengthy legal battle with McDonald’s ensued, capturing public attention.
Initially, Stella sought a settlement of $20,000 to cover her medical bills, an insignificant amount for McDonald’s.
However, McDonald’s rejected the offer, countering with a mere $800 despite Stella’s ordeal.
The case proceeded to trial in 1994, revealing that 700 others had suffered burns from McDonald’s hot beverages.
Stella’s attorney, Kenneth Wagner, stated: “We knew, before the lawsuit was filed, that the temperature of the water was 190 degrees or so, and the franchise documents required that of the franchisee.”
Wagner added, “Our position was that the product was unreasonably dangerous, and the temperature should have been lower.”
The jury awarded Stella $200,000 in compensatory damages, later reduced to $160,000.
In addition, she received $2.7 million in punitive damages, which was reduced to $480,000. The specifics of the settlement remained confidential.
Stella passed away in August 2004 at the age of 91, with her family noting a significant decline in her quality of life following the coffee incident during her final years.
Her daughter mentioned that Stella’s injuries and the court proceedings had a detrimental effect on her, stating she had “no quality of life” after the trial ended.