Many plaintiffs that bring forward a hot beverage spill and burn lawsuit have a similar complaint – that the coffee was too hot. Americans drink over 140 billion cups of coffee per year. There are hot beverages that are brewed, served, and handled over 380 million times per day. Is it really possible for a... Read More

In 1992, Stella Liebeck suffered severe burns when a cup of hot coffee spilled in her lap. The lawsuit that followed sparked a media firestorm, widespread misunderstanding, and renewed calls for tort reform. It also led to a sharp increase in lawsuits filed against coffee retailers. As time goes on, videos such as this TedEd... Read More

A quality hot beverage to-go cup can be the difference between a spill, burn and lawsuit, and a safe and positive customer experience. When considering the choice of cup for your to-go hot beverages, there is more than just cost to consider. A quality cup that has been purchased for spill prevention in mind will... Read More

In 1948, the Snyders created the first recognizable drive thru, an In and Out Burger with a two-way speaker ordering system. The drive thru system has only grown in popularity since then, almost completely replacing the drive – in restaurant by the 1970s. One of the many commodities that have passed through the drive thru... Read More

At Dan Cox & Associates, our priority is to prevent spills and burns entirely. However, with millions of hot beverages brewed and served each day, the occasional spill is an unfortunate but realistic possibility. Sadly, some of those spills can cause burns that can affect a victim’s physical, mental, and financial wellbeing, keeping them from... Read More

In the U.S., the vast majority of lawsuits are settled via mediation. As a hot beverage expert witness and consultant for clients facing spill burn litigation, I’ve consulted on more than 70 cases and four have gone to trial. Yet despite a low percentage of cases proceeding all the way to final judgment, every single... Read More

Accidents happen! Despite our best efforts in training and prevention, hot beverage spills occur and can injure people. Offering to replace a spilled beverage isn’t enough, though, and employees need to respond when a spill occurs. Through strong training programs, your employees and your business can work together to prevent future hot beverage spills and... Read More

One of the most commonly raised questions in hot beverage burn litigation seems deceptively simple: if coffee is hot enough to burn skin, why doesn’t it burn people’s mouths when they drink it every day? The answer lies in basic physiology, heat transfer, and how the human body responds to temperature in different environments. This... Read More

No two lawsuits are the same, but after over 45 years in the hot beverage industry, we’ve seen similarities in many of the cases we consult on. A recent case entails many of the common complaints found in a hot beverage spill and burn lawsuits, it illustrates how an expert in hot beverages can strengthen... Read More