A new HBO documentary that premiered in June 2011 discusses the $2.9 million jury verdict awarded to Stella Liebeck in 1994 in her lawsuit against McDonald’s for serving their coffee too hot. Many mocked her claim and considered it another “frivolous” lawsuit and an abuse of the civil justice system. Some even cited this case as an example of the very reason our legal system needs tort reform. But after viewing the documentary, which included pictures of her severe burns, millions of Americans changed their minds about the so-called abuse of the legal system

Stella Liebeck is an 81 year-old woman who spilled hot coffee from McDonald’s on herself and suffered extensive burns as a result. In court, she argued that her injuries and burns were so extensive because McDonald’s served their coffee too hot, and the jury agreed. In her documentary, Susan Saladoff, the filmmaker, interviewed randomly selected people regarding the controversial jury verdict. As she expected, many people debunked the lawsuit and dubbed it shameful, greedy, and abusive of the legal system.

After hearing their contemptuous responses, Saladoff showed the interviewees photos of Ms. Liebeck’s extensive burns that resulted from McDonald’s hot coffee. After seeing these disturbing photos, many of the critical people instantly changed their minds and saw the lawsuit as valid and well-founded. After the premiere of hot coffee, the once condemned lawsuit changed many American’s ideas about the legal system and the importance of civil lawsuits. This documentary makes an important comment on the justice system today and has changed people’s minds about what are sometimes thought of as trivial lawsuits.

To view the documentary online, visit HBO’s hot coffee website.