Lethal computers? (was: Goodwill Computerworks Museum is open

From: Marvin <marvin_at_rain.org>
Date: Tue Aug 22 18:22:22 2000

Richard Erlacher wrote:
>
> because the UPS alarm starts up and startles them. Now suppose their lawyer
> tells the jury about the dreadful pain of having the hot coffee scald and
> later embarrass the vicitim because the subsequent stain looked like "an
> inside job" rather than a spill . . . Remember the McDonald's lawsuit?

I was on a jury where the judge explained a bit more about why that lawsuit
took place. Apparently, 1) quite a number of people got burned by the hot
coffee, 2) complaints had been registered with McDonalds, 3) hot coffee sold
more coffee, 4) the corporation decided that the additional coffee sales
were worth the risk of a lawsuit. There were some other items I've forgotten
but that is the general jist of that lawsuit. Regardless, I think the
lawsuit was just a way for people to avoid being responsible for their own
actions against a company with deep pockets.
Received on Tue Aug 22 2000 - 18:22:22 BST