We’ve all heard of the McDonald’s coffee case – the one where the elderly woman spilled coffee in her lap and sued McDonald’s for millions and won.  This case happened nearly 20 years ago, but it’s still the butt of jokes and used as an example of how Americans supposedly take advantage of our legal system.  It is the very case that tort reformers across the country refer to when making their case for civil justice “reform.”

A new documentary, Hot Coffee, reviews this infamous case and investigates why special interest groups – such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, funded behind the scenes by big tobacco, oil, insurance, pharmaceutical companies, and other such interests – want to undermine our civil justice system and restrict the legal rights of all Americans to exercise their constitutional guaranteed right to trial by jury and to receive fair and reasonable compensation for when they have been wronged.  Hot Coffee premiers on HBO Monday, June 27 at 8 PM CDT.

I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to watch this documentary, especially the citizens of Illinois.  Our state and its everyday citizens’ are continuously attacked by corporate front groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – not to be confused with your local Chamber of Commerce who supports local businesses.  These attacks are an effort at so-called civil justice “reform.”  The U.S. Chamber, among other front groups funded by big tobacco and their sole-minded profit friends, attacks various judiciaries in Illinois giving certain counties false labels, such as “judicial hellhole.”  They throw around buzz words such as “jackpot justice” and “frivolous lawsuits.”  Their goal?  To get citizens of Illinois to believe our justice system is being manipulated for profit.  When in fact it is being manipulated for profit, by the powerful behind-the-scenes groups that fund the U.S. Chamber.

These front groups even go to the extent to hire marketing firms to taint jury pools before trials, just like they did in Madison County where a large corporation has been accused of contaminating drinking water for thousands of people.  Fairness?  These groups don’t want fairness and they will continue to fight to increase their profits and excessive executive salaries, all at a cost to you and your family.  Their goal is to strip you and me of our constitutional rights to fair and reasonable compensation when we are injured by corporate recklessness.

The film will also examine the impact of corporate America on our judicial elections and how millions of dollars are spent to elect judges who are sympathetic to business interests.

Please be sure to watch Hot Coffee on HBO.  The documentary will be airing throughout June and July on HBO, check local listings for times.  It will surely be an eye opening experience that will shed light on corporate America’s attempt to modify the American jury trial system and prevent you and your family from getting fair compensation if you are one of their victims.

If you ever are in need of a Personal Injury attorney, choosing the right attorney can be a key determinant as to the outcome of your case.

Here are some questions you may wish to ask a Personal Injury attorney before hiring them to represent you:

1. How long have you been a Personal Injury attorney?
2. What is your niche or concentration within Personal Injury law?  (Personal Injury law is broad – it can range from medical malpractice to auto injuries – so selecting a lawyer who is very familiar in your type of Personal Injury case is important.)
3. Do you handle cases on a contingency fee basis?
4. How much do you charge, and when will these fees be paid?
5. How many current clients do you have, and how much time will you be able to spend on my case?
6. Will you refer my case to another law firm once I become your client?  (Some law firms will sign up cases and then refer them to other attorneys.)
7. Who at your firm will I deal with, an attorney or a law clerk or paralegal?  (Make sure you know how the firm operates, so that your case gets the attention it deserves from an actual attorney.)
8. Does your law firm have extensive litigation experience?  (Can the lawyer go before a jury and convince them of the merits of your case?)
9. Is your law firm well-known in the legal community?  Do defense attorneys respect (and fear) the lawyer?
10. Is your firm aggressive?  (Will they push to get the case resolved quickly – with just compensation – or will the case languish due to inaction as the statute of limitations erodes?)
11. Will you come to my home or hospital room or do I have to travel to your offices regardless of the inconvenience this may cause me?
12. From the start of my case, will you prepare the case for a trial or take the shorter path of a settlement?

Elman Law Group LLC is an Illinois Personal Injury law firm that concentrates in car accidents as well as other vehicle-related accidents (pedestrian, bicycle, bus, truck, etc)  This intense focus – plus an average of 30 years average experience among our attorneys – allows us to consistently achieve winning verdicts and settlements.
We can be reached at (773) 392-8182 at any time