How Costly are Spills and Burns?
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Spill burns are no joke. Before we jump into any discussion of hot beverage spill burn costs, we want to make clear that we’ve made it our mission to prevent spill burns from happening in the first place—they can cause significant pain and suffering to victims.... Read More
Training for hot beverage safety: Five tips that make it easy
Brain freeze? Ice down your shirt? It’s true: Iced beverages carry the risk of a few minor inconveniences. But iced drinks don’t carry the risks of serious injury—or legal action—that hot beverages bring. As summer gives way to fall, and the scents of pumpkin spice and salted caramel fill the air, hot drinks are making... Read More
Legal Experience Matters: Five Things I’ve Learned as an Expert Witness
I’ve been in the coffee and tea industry for four decades. But again and again in my work as an expert witness and consultant for coffee burn and hot beverage spill lawsuits, I realize that being a subject matter expert isn’t enough. Legal experience matters. A lot. To speak powerfully to the court—in a deposition,... Read More
From Brew to Burns: How an Accomplished Coffee Professional Became a Spill Burn Expert Witness
This month, our Founder and President Dan Cox traces his journey into the coffee industry, and tells the story of how a coffee expert became a sought after resource in coffee burn lawsuits. **** I often get asked how I found my niche as a spill burn expert witness. Who would set out for such... Read More
Liebeck v. McDonald’s: How a Misunderstood Verdict Could Impact Your Next Case
In 1992, Stella Liebeck was seriously burned when a cup of hot coffee spilled in her lap. The resulting litigation set off a firestorm of media sensation, misunderstanding, and calls for tort reform—and sent the number of lawsuits against coffee retailers through the roof. As time goes on, videos such as this TedEd talk reshape... Read More
Engaging an Expert: The Technical Report That Forms the Foundation of a Strong Defense
When you bring on a spill burn expert witness to consult on litigation relating to hot beverage spill burns, you’re not just bringing someone to speak up at a trial. You are engaging someone who provides credibility, practical knowledge, and decades of relevant experience. As a subject matter expert witness at trial, I provide clients... Read More
Will the UC Davis Coffee Temperature Study Impact Hot Beverage Burns?
Can coffee brewed at lower temperatures increase hot beverage safety while still producing a great cup of coffee? UC Davis recently answered this question in a study on brew temperature’s effect on the sensory profile of drip brew coffee. The study, published in the journal Nature Research, showed that the SCA Golden Cup Standard could... Read More
The Comfort of Hospitality: Is Airline Beverage Service a Necessary Risk?
With airlines tightening their belts and reducing frills and conveniences in recent years, passengers are clinging to the small pleasures remaining. Sometimes a hot cup of coffee or tea mid flight is an important comfort that makes a long day of travel a little bit better. But a recent ruling by the European Court of... Read More
From Initial Call Until the Case is Closed: Working With a Hot Beverage Spill Burn Expert Witness
When hot coffee and tea spills happen and injuries result, lawyers hire us as technical consultants who can provide expert witness testimony in litigation related to hot beverage spill burns. Lawyers are concerned with establishing our expertise and determining whether the objective facts of the case, that we would speak to, support their client’s claim... Read More
Expert Witness Success Story: 12–0 Verdict
We often field questions about the role of an expert witness in hot beverage spill burn litigation. While no two court cases are the same, there are often some general similarities. To paint a picture of what our work entails, we’re here to share a success story from a recent lawsuit that illustrates the process... Read More