hot coffee paperthe hot coffee documentary focuses L a w

Hot Coffee Paper

The Hot Coffee documentary focuses on the products liability case against McDonald’s brought by Stella Liebeck and the ensuing debate over tort reform. Watch the documentary, which is available here: http://ezproxy.library.berkeley.org:80/Login?url=http://docuseek2.com/v/a/oeT3 (Links to an external site.)

When you are finished watching the documentary, please review the following two articles:

(1) Cup Half Full: “Hot Coffee” Serves Up Slanted View of Liability System (Links to an external site.); and

(2) Why Tort Reform is Necessary for Economic Recovery (Links to an external site.).

These articles critique the documentary and provide contrasting arguments from those presented in the documentary.

Assignment requirements: After reviewing the above materials, you are to write a 3 page paper, size 12 font, double spaced, that addresses the questions listed below.

What is tort reform? How is tort reform achieved?

Provide a brief summary of the factual history and ultimate result of the Liebeck v. McDonald’s case. Your summary should not be longer than a page and should address: the facts surrounding the case, why Liebeck sued, the jury’s ruling, the trial court’s modification of the ruling and the ultimate conclusion of the case.

Were you aware of this case prior to this assignment? If you were aware of the case, did the film change your mind about what you thought about the case originally?

How did the Liebeck v. McDonald’s case impact tort reform?

Do you think tort reform is necessary? Why or why not?

This paper is due by the end of week 13 and must be typed. This paper should be in essay form and not question/answer format. The questions presented do not necessarily have to be answered in the same order as presented above. Please use your judgment and create a logical organization. If outside resources are used, including the eText, proper citations and a References page must be included in APA format. The References page does not count towards the 3 page requirement.