The Resume

(circa 1913-August 4, 2004)
Resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Spilled McDonald's coffee on herself (February 27, 1992)
Awarded $2.9 million in damages (1994)

Why she might be annoying:

She spilled the coffee after placing the cup between her legs while removing the lid.
McDonald's coffee cups already had warning labels, but the jury decided they were inadequate.
Her lawyer claimed that the 180 F serving temperature for McDonald's coffee was significantly higher than other restaurants'.
The National Coffee Association recommends 180-185 F for a serving temperature, and Burger King, Wendy's, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks all serve their coffee in this range.
Twelve similar coffee burn cases in the 1990s were tossed out of court as meritless.
ABC News called the Liebeck case 'the poster child of excessive lawsuits.'

Why she might not be annoying:

She suffered third-degree burns on her thighs, buttocks and groin and required skin grafts.
She originally offered to settle for just her medical costs and went to court when McDonald's offered only $800.
The jury award of $2.9 million was reduced by the judge to $480,000.
She and McDonald's eventually settled for an undisclosed amount.
She turned a 49 cent investment into a sizable nest egg.
The case was spoofed on 'Seinfeld.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 2022 - 100 Most Annoying (Ranked: 46)
• Alta Cockers
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 03]
• Don't Look at Me, I'm Not in My Profile Picture
• I Died in 2004 (Ranked: 91)
• I Inspired a Seinfeld Character
• Profiles 20001-20250 (Ranked: 20212)
• Satirized on Futurama
• Toby Keith’s ‘American Ride’ References/Interpretations
• Weird Al Yankovic References

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 28 Votes: 60.71% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 94 Votes: 58.51% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 32 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 72.22% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 82.35% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 66 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 75 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 45 Votes: 68.89% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 165 Votes: 76.97% Annoying