Hot Coffee Preview: HBO's Monday Documentary Explores The Topic Of Frivolous Lawsuits

The topic of tort reform and what many would describe as “frivolous lawsuits” is an interesting one. While some may consider a hefty payout to be fair compensation for a company’s negligence, others consider these suits to be a waste of time and money for the civil justice system. Former public interest lawyer Susan Saladoff’s documentary Hot Coffee, which is set to air on HBO next week, explores this topic.

The title of the documentary refers to the famous lawsuit back in the ‘90’s wherein an elderly woman sued McDonalds after she spilled coffee, purchased at the fast food restaurant, on her lap and was burned so badly that she had to be hospitalized. Was she in the right to seek financial compensation for the accident? It’s a thought-provoking issue, to say the least and it’s one of many legal cases likely to prompt us to question our legal system. Where’s the line between what’s a reasonable lawsuit and a frivolous one? What’s “fair compensation” for an accident? How much responsibility falls on the victim? How does the court determine the commonness of common sense? And most importantly, how are all of these lawsuits affecting our legal rights?

I doubt the Hot Coffee documentary will be able to answer all of the above questions, but it will address this topic. HBO says the documentary, "challenges viewers to reexamine long-held beliefs that the courts are flooded with frivolous lawsuits that lead to “jackpot justice,” ultimately questioning the effectiveness of a civil justice system heavily influenced by bottom-line corporate interests." The film will not only feature people involved in cases like these (including the McDonalds case), but also include outside opinions from man-on-the-street interviews. Below is HBO’s description and further down is the trailer.