Memphis Zoo, Sept. 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
What I Want
Right now all I want it for people to take personal responsibility for their actions. I'm sorry for her pain - really. And yes the drive through worker should have affixed the lid more carefully. What about checking the lid as you receive it because we all know about the McDonalds lawsuit. $250,000 - C'mon!!!!! Can you say "Frivolous Lawsuit". I knew you could.
Knoxville News Sentinel
Woman sues Starbucks; says scalding coffee, unattached lid caused disfigurement
Jordan Triplett went for a morning pick-me-up from Starbucks and wound up with first-degree burns.
Now, she's suing the Seattle-based coffee house empire for $250,000 in a Knox County Circuit Court lawsuit that blames Triplett's burns on a barista's lid snafu.
"This case involved real and significant injuries, unlike other cases where individuals have sought compensation from similar vendors," attorney Gregory P. Isaacs said. A lawsuit over McDonald's coffee that burned a woman in the 1990s spurred national debate over the need for tort reform.
"It's significant to note Ms. Triplett attempted to resolve this in a reasonable fashion without litigation and received no response," Isaacs said.
A Starbucks representative did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.
The lawsuit alleges that the 23-year-old Triplett drove to a Starbucks on Kingston Pike on July 13 and bought coffee via the store's drive-through window. The lawsuit is silent on what Triplett ordered.
Whatever she ordered, she knew right away it was hot, the lawsuit states. There is your first clue to not sit it in your lap!
"She experienced extreme heat radiating through the cup and protective cardboard sleeve," Isaacs wrote. "(She) balanced the extremely hot cup of coffee on her thigh with her hand on top of the cup as she pulled away from the window and negotiated a turn onto the roadway." And to me that is all there is. Extreme heat radiating through the cup. Hint Hint Hint (get it off your leg). Since she apparently knew it was "extremely" hot then she should have put it into a cup holder. And of course no mention of the fact that she wasn't concentrating on her driving.
Once on Kingston Pike, Triplett noticed "the lid of the coffee container was loose and not affixed properly," the lawsuit states.
"Before Triplett could achieve a better grasp upon the cup, the lid dislodged from the cup, thereby causing scalding coffee to spill and splash onto (her) lap, right thigh and right hand," the lawsuit states. Should have taken care of that before she started to drive. Parking lot would have been a good place.
The coffee soaked through her denim jeans, causing her to cry out in severe pain, according to the lawsuit.
She drove to a nearby friend's house and disrobed.
"She discovered that she had severe blisters and burns on her hand, inner thigh and vaginal area," the lawsuit states. Through Jeans and underwear? Ok, so I'm a tad skeptical.
A doctor later classified the injuries as first- and second-degree burns, Isaacs wrote. She racked up hefty medical bills and suffered "severe and permanent injuries (and) cosmetic impairment, scarring and disfigurement" as a result of the burns, the lawsuit alleges.
"Triplett immediately contacted the Starbucks franchise where she purchased the scalding coffee to inform them of the incident and to request that the employees be more careful in attaching the lids to the container and monitor the temperature of the coffee," the lawsuit states. "The Starbucks agent was incredibly unresponsive."
She later filed a complaint with the firm's corporate headquarters that netted her a gift certificate offer instead of restitution for her medical bills, according to the lawsuit. So her medical bills for burns were $250,000. She saw lawsuit immediately and went to the doctor I bet. Regular people would have put burn cream on it and a large bandaid and moved on. Maybe even called in sick if the burn was bad enough. I wish I could be on that jury!!! I'd give her $20 bucks for cream and the bandaid.
Knoxville News Sentinel
Woman sues Starbucks; says scalding coffee, unattached lid caused disfigurement
Jordan Triplett went for a morning pick-me-up from Starbucks and wound up with first-degree burns.
Now, she's suing the Seattle-based coffee house empire for $250,000 in a Knox County Circuit Court lawsuit that blames Triplett's burns on a barista's lid snafu.
"This case involved real and significant injuries, unlike other cases where individuals have sought compensation from similar vendors," attorney Gregory P. Isaacs said. A lawsuit over McDonald's coffee that burned a woman in the 1990s spurred national debate over the need for tort reform.
"It's significant to note Ms. Triplett attempted to resolve this in a reasonable fashion without litigation and received no response," Isaacs said.
A Starbucks representative did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.
The lawsuit alleges that the 23-year-old Triplett drove to a Starbucks on Kingston Pike on July 13 and bought coffee via the store's drive-through window. The lawsuit is silent on what Triplett ordered.
Whatever she ordered, she knew right away it was hot, the lawsuit states. There is your first clue to not sit it in your lap!
"She experienced extreme heat radiating through the cup and protective cardboard sleeve," Isaacs wrote. "(She) balanced the extremely hot cup of coffee on her thigh with her hand on top of the cup as she pulled away from the window and negotiated a turn onto the roadway." And to me that is all there is. Extreme heat radiating through the cup. Hint Hint Hint (get it off your leg). Since she apparently knew it was "extremely" hot then she should have put it into a cup holder. And of course no mention of the fact that she wasn't concentrating on her driving.
Once on Kingston Pike, Triplett noticed "the lid of the coffee container was loose and not affixed properly," the lawsuit states.
"Before Triplett could achieve a better grasp upon the cup, the lid dislodged from the cup, thereby causing scalding coffee to spill and splash onto (her) lap, right thigh and right hand," the lawsuit states. Should have taken care of that before she started to drive. Parking lot would have been a good place.
The coffee soaked through her denim jeans, causing her to cry out in severe pain, according to the lawsuit.
She drove to a nearby friend's house and disrobed.
"She discovered that she had severe blisters and burns on her hand, inner thigh and vaginal area," the lawsuit states. Through Jeans and underwear? Ok, so I'm a tad skeptical.
A doctor later classified the injuries as first- and second-degree burns, Isaacs wrote. She racked up hefty medical bills and suffered "severe and permanent injuries (and) cosmetic impairment, scarring and disfigurement" as a result of the burns, the lawsuit alleges.
"Triplett immediately contacted the Starbucks franchise where she purchased the scalding coffee to inform them of the incident and to request that the employees be more careful in attaching the lids to the container and monitor the temperature of the coffee," the lawsuit states. "The Starbucks agent was incredibly unresponsive."
She later filed a complaint with the firm's corporate headquarters that netted her a gift certificate offer instead of restitution for her medical bills, according to the lawsuit. So her medical bills for burns were $250,000. She saw lawsuit immediately and went to the doctor I bet. Regular people would have put burn cream on it and a large bandaid and moved on. Maybe even called in sick if the burn was bad enough. I wish I could be on that jury!!! I'd give her $20 bucks for cream and the bandaid.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Just Some Reminders
Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 57: 1-2 (New King James)
"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed."
Psalm 23:1-6 (New International Version)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 57: 1-2 (New King James)
"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed."
Psalm 23:1-6 (New International Version)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Invisible Bumps
Have you ever been walking and just tripped? Nothing was there, you basically tripped on air. I just did it this morning as I was walking to the mailroom. Nothing there but me and my trippy little self.
It happens - I walk and I walk and then all of a sudden a stumble. Now sometimes there is something there - don't go thinking I'm a clutz (be nice Diana). But sometimes there doesn't seem to be anything there. Doesn't matter what shoes I'm wearing or where I'm walking. Sometimes I think air gets chunky in some places and you just trip - but that's another blog and another tangent.
Where am I going with this (Oh - I am going somewhere and here it is). Life is like that. Well my life anyway. I go walking along and then stumble. What keeps me from totally falling on my face or butt is my faith. I try very hard to keep God on that path so if I do stumble I have him there to catch me or set me right side up. For instance, I haven't been to church in awhile and I miss it. I miss the heartfelt singing, hearing the word and the fellowship. That is one of my bumps in the road right now. I don't have a reliable car to get me there and back. But I have been feeling so close to God lately that I know that he understands that I worship him wherever I am throughout the day. Home, work or bus.
Riding the bus has been one of my bumps too and yet has helped me spend more time with God. I could nap, crochet, read or do something else on the bus (and some days I do). But more often than not I can close my eyes and pray and just talk with God about life, family or whatever pops into my head (and if you know me then you know lots of things just pop in my head). Some days that is 2 hours of just quality time with God. It can be very freeing and sometimes it can be very emotional (wiping tears away on the bus is a little embarrassing-but when you gotta-you gotta). Lately, I've been looking at my being car-less as one of those lesson thingies that seem to come up every now and then. I figure when I learn whatever it is I am supposed to learn I will get my car back. So far I think I might need a tutor to help me with this lesson - cause to me it is taking FOREVER! But then again time is not the same for us and meanwhile I am spending time with God. Now why didn't I just do that when I drove? Well one, I really can't just close my eyes when I am driving and two I focused on listening to radio programs or music. On the bus I am sometimes forced into inactivity because we are just little blobs of humanness that are all stuck together in a cramped little space rolling down the road at about 50 mph (70 on the highway).
Basically riding the bus has made me take that time that I should have taken to begin with. Sometimes it takes a large smack to get my attention. Riding the bus I'm in a confined space and not much world to interfere. We've had some good talks, God and I. I'm glad he is a GREAT listener - because some days I can be very chatty.
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