The McDonald's Coffee Case (10-12)
We will look at the famous McDonald's coffee case and use analytical and critical thinking skills to discuss whether there was a just outcome. We will discuss little known facts, products liability, and business ethics.
Leandra - B.A. PoliSci; Law Student (she/her)
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(271)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 6
If one were to ask, "How can being a lawyer help society?" the average person may not think of many, or any, ways a lawyer can achieve this. Some view attorneys in a negative light, others may think that only lawmakers and politicians can make changes in our society. In this course (and future courses) we will look at specific cases that show how being a lawyer helped people and changed an aspect in our society. Our first example is the McDonald's coffee case. A few years ago, a woman went through a McDonald's drive-thru and ordered coffee. She placed the coffee in her lap, and, unfortunately, the coffee spilled all over her lap causing severe burns. The woman sued McDonald's for her injuries. The media responded to her lawsuit with a lot of criticism of the woman; however, she won the case--based on evidence that came out during the trial. In this class, we will examine details of this case which give an example of how effective lawyering can help people and change society by holding bigger businesses and manufacturers accountable. In the process, we will also briefly discuss the civil processes in a lawsuit, products liability, punitive damages, and business ethics. Students will be asked to analyze the details of the case to discuss what they think, if they think something is right or wrong, and if they would decide the case a different way.
Learning Goals
The main goal is for students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills. Students will learn an aspect of civil law and apply this new knowledge when analyzing this case. Students will be asked to think about the utility and ethics of punitive damages and business practices.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2020
5.0
271reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have six years of work experience as a paralegal in both civil and criminal settings. I am completing a law degree in which I received several academic honors and awards. I also worked hard to be second in my class and the areas of Torts (civil law) and Criminal law are my strongest subjects. My work experience has added to my academic studies, as I have real-world experience in what I have studied. Having this real-world experience and relating it to what I am learning in law school has made me even more excited and passionate about becoming an attorney. I have seen through working with my former bosses, and learning about certain cases in school, that being a lawyer can be a very impactful job in the lives of clients'. I hope to share these insights with learners to show them a different side of working in the legal field. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$60
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 35 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-12
3-10 learners per class
