Legal Studies 3040

Section 1: What is Negligence?


Lesson 2: Consumer Rights

Today, of course, consumers are much more aware of their rights than they once were (or, more accurately, consumers today simply have more rights). If someone today were to find a foreign object in a sealed consumable product, the producer would accept responsibility without question.

Yeah, like once in a restaurant, I found a bandage off someone's finger in my soup. And I know someone who got sick from eating bad fish in a cafeteria.

Good examples. And when incidents like those occur, the businesses involved are generally quick to offer things like a free meal or even a written apology so you won't complain too loudly. Businesses know that if customers are harmed by their negligence, they'll likely be sued.

That's true. My parents were telling me about this woman a few years back in the U.S. who scalded herself at a fast-food restaurant when she spilled some really hot coffee on her lap. She sued and was rewarded all sorts of money, even though she was the one who spilled the coffee. Weird!


The case of the scalding coffee grabbed media attention when it occurred because, to many people, it seemed absurd that a customer could sue a restaurant for having served a hot beverage "hot". Other people have pointed out, however, that the case wasn't quite that simple. If you'd like to learn more about this case, use an Internet search engine along with the search terms "McDonald's coffee case" and see what you can learn.

Check your knowledge by completing Something to Think About 4 on the next page.