Hot Coffee (2011)

How the infamous McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit and similar cases were exploited as part of a right wing crusade to weaken civil justice.

Director:

Susan Saladoff

Stars:

Chuck Allen, Judy Allen, Jay Angoff

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Chuck Allen	...	Self
Judy Allen	...	Self
Jay Angoff	...	Self
David Arredondo	...	Self
Tom Baker	...	Self
Paul Bland	...	Self
Kenneth Canfield	...	Self
Joan Claybrook	...	Self
Ralph Cook	...	Self
Jennifer Diaz	...	Self
Oliver Diaz	...	Self
Joanne Doroshow	...	Self
Betty Farnham	...	Self
Al Franken	...	Self
Marjorie Getman	...	Self

Storyline

The McDonald's coffee case has been routinely cited by the media as an example of how citizens have taken advantage of the legal system. We will show how this case became so popular in the media, who funded the effort and to what end. We will tell the truth and let the audience decide if spilling hot coffee is really as profitable as they might otherwise believe.

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Plot Keywords:

coffee | legal | media | justice | tort reform | 

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Taglines:

Is justice being served?

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Features 60 Minutes (1968)

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Soundtracks

Government Jungle
Music by Michael Mollura (as Michael R. Mollura) /BMI
Lyrics by Michael Mollura (as Michael R. Mollura), Cindy Lee and Susan Saladoff
Produced by Keith Kohn/ASCAP
Performed by Tara Hunnewell and Michael Mollura (as Michael R. Mollura)

User Reviews

McDonald's had over 700 complaints about their coffee before this suit

. . . and ignored them all.

Anyone who actually watched this film would know that the McDonald's case is only the first of several cases discussed in the movie. Anyone who knows about the McDonald's case would know that the injuries suffered by this 79 yr old woman were outrageous. She required skin grafts all over her crotch, most of her buttocks, and much of her upper thighs. She had third degree burns so bad she almost died. This woman was no sleaze, no con artist-- she worked her whole life.

Other reviewers seem to ignore that there has been a concerted movement by Karl Rove and his US Chamber of Commerce pals to stack the deck against individual rights in favor of corporations under the guise of "tort reform" and some of their tactics have been appalling-- and this film discusses that as well.

This film, much like Gasland, tells a story that needs to be told, and it's great that HBO has the kahunas to air it.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 June 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Café Quente

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hot Coffee, If Not Now Productions, The Group Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color