Victim Stella Liebeck

A noted victim of the self-inflicted variety was Stella Liebeck, who in 1992 spilled a hot cup of coffee in her own lap at a McDonald's drive-through window.

Mrs. Liebeck, 79, of Albuquerque, was seated on the passenger side of her Ford. The spill occurred when she was trying to remove the lid. She was badly scalded and had to spend eight days in the hospital and had skin grafts.

Then began an interchange between Liebeck and McDonald's. She sued for $20,000; the company offered $800. Her lawyers argued that the coffee had been too hot (Never mind that darn few people want coffee that is merely warm). Never mind, as well, that accidents happen and that we should shoulder the responsibility for those we bring on ourselves.

In the end, a jury decided that the company should bear 80% of the blame and found for Mrs. Liebeck in the wonderfully excessive amount of $2,900,000. The award was reduced by a judge to $640,000. Both sides appealed, and eventually an out-of-court settlement was reached.

Liebeck died in 2004 at age 91.