You’ll discover how a handful of lawsuits reshaped what McDonald’s serves, how it treats employees and franchisees, and how it communicates with the public. These cases forced real policy, safety, and operational changes that ripple through the brand you see today.
Keep going if you want a clear, practical look at the legal fights that pushed McDonald’s to change temperature protocols, marketing practices, workplace policies, accessibility standards, food-safety safeguards, and franchise rules.
The 1994 Liebeck hot coffee lawsuit that sparked major changes in McDonald’s coffee serving temperatures
You probably know the story as the “hot coffee” case, but it’s more than a punchline. In 1994, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck suffered severe third‑degree burns after spilling coffee heated far above typical serving temperatures; jurors awarded damages after seeing medical evidence and photos.
McDonald’s initially refused a $20,000 settlement and offered $800, which didn’t cover medical bills. The verdict and publicity forced changes in how restaurants disclose risks and reheated debates about product safety and corporate responsibility, and it changed industry practices around coffee temperature and warnings.
Read more about the case details and context at the Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants Wikipedia page.
The 2002 New York teen obesity lawsuit over deceptive marketing claims
You read about teens who sued McDonald’s in 2002, claiming its advertising and food helped cause obesity and related health problems.
A federal judge dismissed the case, finding the complaints didn’t sufficiently link McDonald’s marketing to the teens’ conditions and noting personal responsibility concerns.
The suit drew wide media attention and is often cited in discussions about fast food liability and advertising to children; more detail appears in reporting like this CNN summary of the dismissal.
The 2004 racial discrimination class-action by African American employees
You read about employees who alleged systemic bias in pay, promotions, and work assignments at several McDonald’s franchises.
The suit pushed the company to reassess franchise oversight and forced changes to hiring and promotion tracking.
Court attention and settlements made McDonald’s more accountable to franchise-level practices and prompted clearer corporate guidance.
The labor law dispute involving wrongful termination and franchisee relationships
You may recall lawsuits that accused McDonald’s and franchisees of wrongful termination tied to franchise control and worker complaints.
Those cases raised questions about joint-employer status and who bears responsibility for labor practices.
If you run or work in a franchise, the rulings changed how courts view franchisor oversight and potential liability.
Reviewing franchise agreements and dispute procedures became more important for protecting your rights and investments.
See reporting on the wider legal impact in this roundup of biggest lawsuits against McDonald’s.
The accessibility lawsuits filed by disability rights activists
You read about activists suing McDonald’s over inaccessible restaurants, drive-thrus, and digital ordering that blocked access for people with disabilities.
Those cases pushed the company to change policies, retrofit locations, and improve web and app accessibility.
You can see how litigation forced concrete fixes and settlement agreements that affected operations nationwide.
For background on similar public-access suits and enforcement, review civil actions brought under the ADA and related advocacy efforts.
The food safety lawsuits addressing issues with contaminated or mislabeled ingredients
You’ve seen cases where contaminated burgers or mislabeled ingredients landed McDonald’s in court. Those suits forced the company to tighten sourcing, handling, and labeling practices.
You now expect clearer ingredient lists and faster recalls when problems arise. One recent outbreak led to multiple filings and wider scrutiny of food safety across the chain.
If you eat at fast-food restaurants, these lawsuits changed how companies report risks and respond to illness complaints.
The franchisee discrimination cases spotlighting unfair treatment within the network
You read allegations that Black franchisees were steered to low-performing locations and denied support, claims that framed the dispute as systemic unfairness.
Those cases accuse McDonald’s of creating a two-tier system where white owners got more corporate help and better territories.
You see plaintiffs say many stores closed or were sold under pressure, with legal filings arguing this damaged generational wealth.
Reporting and legal analysis tracked how these suits forced corporate changes and public scrutiny, reshaping franchisor-franchisee oversight.
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