Hot Coffee: Findlay presents free award-winning film on April 25

In 1992, Stella Liebeck spilled a cup of hot McDonald’s coffee on her lap. When the case went through the U.S. courts, she became a global symbol for frivolous lawsuits and American greed—she’s the eponymous Stella of the Stella Awards, dolled out annually between 2002 and 2007 for wild and outrageous lawsuits.

You’d maybe think of Stella’s case differently if you could see photos of her burns. And it turns out you can, at a FREE showing of the award-winning documentary Hot Coffee, which premiered at Sundance in 2011 and was shown on HBO later that year.

HOT COFFEE THE MOVIE
Thursday April 25
SilverCity Ancaster
771 Golf Links Rd
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., showtime at 7 p.m.
FREE!
RSVP for tickets

Insurance companies have spent enormous amounts of money on campaigns to demonize victims who decide to seek justice through the courts. They’re smart. If people who’ve been seriously injured because of the negligence of another feel ashamed to come forward for compensation or fear their name will be dragged through the mud (or an award program named after them), they might not pursue a lawsuit. And the insurance company automatically wins—because it’s the insurance company that has to foot the bill when the company is made to pay. No case equals no payment.

While the movie is about the U.S. legal system, the issues are timely north of the border as well. Recent changes to Ontario’s auto insurance have reduced the amount insurance companies paid to accident victims by close to $2 billion in 2011. We’re seeing caps to benefits and injuries are increasingly being classified as minor. People in car accidents are getting very little support for recovery and insurance companies are saving millions.

Hot Coffee helps put the David vs. Goliath issues of the justice system front and centre.

We invite you to see the documentary on the 25th…and then make up your own mind.