Woman Scalded By McDonald’s Hot Tea In Morris County, Lawsuit Says

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County woman has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's and claims she suffered severe burns when the lid came off a cup of hot tea and spilled on her, according to court documents.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Stacey Crisman, a Kenvil resident, said the incident happened at the McDonald's located at 249 Rt. 10 East, Succasunna, on Jan. 13, 2022.

The lawsuit claimed that the employees and the corporation were negligent in the "distribution, manufacturing, storage, preparation, inspection, and service" of the tea given to Crisman.

It further claimed that the employees had not been adequately trained and supervised because of how the "scalding hot tea" was provided.

As a result of the incident, Crisman "has been prevented from and will continue to be prevented from performing and engaging in everyday activities, has lost the enjoyment of life, has sustained economic damages, and has otherwise been damaged," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit names McDonald's, ABC Corporations and several unnamed individuals as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, Crisman is demanding a trial by jury.

Patch reached out to Howard Lesnik, attorney for Crisman, for a comment on the litigation but did not immediately receive a response.

The suit is the third filed recently against the fast food giant.

In December, an Essex County woman filed a similar lawsuit, claiming she suffered severe burns from hot tea. In September, a Hudson County woman filed a lawsuit claiming she suffered burns after purchasing coffee at the McDonald’s in Union City, according to an NJ Advance Media report.

A San Francisco woman also sued McDonald's, claiming she suffered "severe burns" from a scalding cup of coffee and was refused help by store employees, according to a Today.com report.

One of the most noteworthy cases against McDonald's was filed in 1992, when 79-year-old Stella Liebeck spilled hot coffee on her lap and sustained third-degree burns on 16 percent of her body.

Liebeck offered to settle the matter for $20,000, but McDonald's declined, paying only $800. A jury later awarded Liebeck $3 million in punitive and compensatory damages after experts testified that McDonald's coffee was up to 30 degrees hotter than at other restaurants.

In the past year, lawsuits have also been filed in New Jersey against Dunkin' Donuts.

In January 2023, a man claimed he was burned by "excessively" hot coffee at a Dunkin' Donuts location on Speedwell Avenue in Morris Plains.

The Hanover Township resident said he suffered "severe and permanent" burn injuries as a result of the coffee spill, that he has missed work, and that he will continue to incur medical expenses "as a result of the defective product."