Hot coffee

Not only does this video set the record straight on the widely misunderstood court case concerning the woman who in 1992 was seriously burned by a cup of McDonald's coffee, but it also examines several less notorious but no less devastating cases and uses them all as a platform for a discussion of the tort reform movement. The injured parties and family representatives relate their stories, while legal and medical experts discuss the injuries, evidence, and legal procedures. Filmmaker and former attorney Saladoff skillfully incorporates poignant cases that illustrate the often unjust effects of such reform measures as damage caps and mandatory arbitration contract clauses on the rights of victims. She inserts on-the-street interviews with average citizens to reveal common misconceptions about tort reform, while appearances by Sen. Al Franken and author/lawyer John Grisham help to explain the issues and add celebrity power. The film raises questions about the motives and activities of the American Tort Reform Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The graphic footage of the burns in the McDonald's case is necessary to put to rest the notion that the victim was simply greedy. Bonus features include an insightful look at how the politically charged language of tort reform was crafted to influence opinion. VERDICT This well-made film goes beyond advocacy group sound bites and provides an intelligible analysis of what tort reform means to consumers, victims, and public figures; it will appeal to consumer protection groups, the legal community, and general audiences interested in protecting their legal rights.-Joan Pedzich, formerly with Harris Beach PLLC, Pittsford, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.