Trunk Light

[427435]

I believe the point is, as we say in our industry, "operator trouble" is the problem. It really should not matter if the coffee was 160 deg. or boiling. Hot is hot and the lady came into contact with a hot liquid because of "operator trouble". This is why we need fewer attorneys.

There is a very large difference in the ability to cause injury between 190 deg coffee served in an insulated cup (with a difficult lid to remove) and 160 degree coffee served in a porcelain cup. There was a lot of evidence that the franchisers wanted to lower the serving temp due to past problems and complaints, but a corp VP wouldn't let them. He had read/heard that coffee had to be roasted at at least 190 deg to develop full flavor. However, lowering the serving temp (once roasted) doesn't hurt the flavor.

Not only was the "accident" foreseeable but there had been numerous problems reported to McDonald's previously. The last is what leads to recalls in the auto industry and what should have lead to some corp standard changes.

 

[Fast55]

Bullshtien. No one else in that business serves coffee in a "porcelain cup". That is not a valid argument. There is no expectation that "hot coffee" is anything but "hot". To debate the point at which it is "too hot" is a venue for litigious attorney's who's sole purpose is to fleece large companies like McDonalds out of big money. I do not agree with them blowing her off for medical expenses and having it go to trial. They could have made the whole thing go away for 20K. That was a mistake.

While it's unfortunate that the lady got burned, the problem again, is that she spilled it. Now if she was burned by a coffee cup that "failed", or the employee serving the drink spilled it on her, that's a little different. It was suggested that Ford should also have been sued because the car had no cup holders! Ludicrous!


Just like the OP's wife leaving the trunk open, the problem really isn't with the product.

 

[427435]

Bullshtien. No one else in that business serves coffee in a "porcelain cup". That is not a valid argument. There is no expectation that "hot coffee" is anything but "hot". To debate the point at which it is "too hot" is a venue for litigious attorney's who's sole purpose is to fleece large companies like McDonalds out of big money. I do not agree with them blowing her off for medical expenses and having it go to trial. They could have made the whole thing go away for 20K. That was a mistake.

While it's unfortunate that the lady got burned, the problem again, is that she spilled it. Now if she was burned by a coffee cup that "failed", or the employee serving the drink spilled it on her, that's a little different. It was suggested that Ford should also have been sued because the car had no cup holders! Ludicrous!


Just like the OP's wife leaving the trunk open, the problem really isn't with the product.

What is BS is that no other fast food franchise served coffee that hot. And regular restaurants do serve coffee in porcelain cups. I had the opportunity to listen to one of the expert witnesses from that trial. McDonald's deserved what they got.

The reason I was at the seminar was because I was on the defensive side many times in product liability lawsuits. The seminar was how to stay out of those lawsuits (and how to minimize loses if you are sued). One of those ways is to keep marketing and sales from having the final say on things that you could get sued over.

 

[Fast55]

One last time because we're WAY off topic.

McD's is a fast food restaurant, not a coffee shop. They do not use porcelain cups. Now that I know what you do for living, it's pointless to argue the finer points of this since I'm not an attorney (but did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night).

However, I do know this: Her attorney argued that the coffee McDonald’s served may produce third-degree burns in about 12 to 15 seconds. Lowering the temperature to 160 °F (71 °C) would increase the time for the coffee to produce such a burn to 20 seconds.

It was argued that these extra seconds could provide adequate time to remove the coffee from exposed skin, thereby preventing many burns.

Puleezzzz.

Since there was and is no "legal standard" for the temperature of hot coffee, I call this "frivolous" as many others have. The only thing McD's did wrong was not to take care of her medical bills before it went to trial, but then, isn't that admitting fault? Was Ford at fault? You tell me.

Most people I know see the problem as spilling on themselves, not how hot the coffee is.

 

[427435]

Sorry, I'm not a lawyer, but I spent some time keeping them at bay as an engineer.

 

[427435]

We are off subject, alright, but more info is here:

http://pratlaw.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/an-old-posting-i-always-wanted-to-have-referenced/

 

[veed]

so a topic that started out about light generates heat. heh.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

Call me crazy, but I do not see how that one light will kill a battery (especially the size in the Genesis) over one night's time????

Also, consider installing an LED light there. Will consume less power if it's left open again. Still don't see how that light is killing the battery.

Unfortunately, it is true. It happened to me twice. I could have swore the trunk was closed when I closed it as you have a really hard time telling whether or not it is fully closed on my 2012.

I always pull up on it after I close it, and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Fast55]

We are off subject, alright, but more info is here:

http://pratlaw.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/an-old-posting-i-always-wanted-to-have-referenced/

I'm in the ASI (automation/security/integration) business myself. I always enjoy giving my lawyer brother-in-law a hard time about this stuff.

OK, back on topic. It's tough to be 100% sure, but the trunk light doesn't appear to keep the rest of the electronics on, so maybe just LED's would solve the issue.

 

[Matheson]

There are some good answers here and others that are not helpful and reflect the attitude of people who get enjoyment from making these unhelpful comments which shows their level of maturity. Idiots are not useful here. Their posts just take up server space and waste a readers time and adds to the readers already negative mind set which occurs far too often in today's world.

What happens in my case is the trunk button on the key gets depressed while the key is in my pocket and the car is in the garage making it impossible to know the trunk has been inadvertently opened until, of course, I try to start the car. An expensive car with irksome things that reduce its desire to own. Manufacturers should try to avoid these very inexpensive issues that cause huge negative impacts on sales.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[Volfy]

One thing you can do is to change out the incandescent light bulbs (2 x 5w each IIRC) with LEDs. So instead of drawing close to 1A combined, which will suck the battery dry in a day, the LEDs draw a few mA, which will take much longer.

I changed out just about all the little festoon bulbs all over the interior and exterior in my '09 most because I like the brighter and whiter LEDs, but the side benefit of drawing much less amps and producing less heat is appreciated also.

 

[Reb1079]

This post is a prime example of what is wrong with our society today. The poster is blaming the product when clearly it is functioning properly and the user is at fault, plain and simple. Close the frickin' trunk!

When loading the trunk for a long trip, I know that I'd prefer not having the trunk lights on during the process.