McDonald's sued over hot coffee spill by Surrey woman

A woman from Surrey, B.C., is suing the McDonald's restaurant chain after she was allegedly burned by a cup of hot coffee that spilled onto her lap at a drive-thru.

In a claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Nansy Saad says her life changed on Nov. 1, 2011, when she stopped to get a coffee at the McDonald's on the King George Highway.

As the cashier passed the hot drink to her, the lid popped off and the coffee ended up on her lap.

Saad says she suffered burns to the lower part of her body, including her thighs, abdomen and genitals.

Eight months later she is in pain and has post-traumatic stress disorder and a form of mental illness concerning body image, she claims.

Saad alleges the fast food restaurant and its employee were negligent; failing among other things to put the lid on the coffee and to make sure she had a safe way to consume their product.

She's seeking compensation to cover her suffering, loss of income, earning capacity and health-care costs.

McDonald's has been named in similar lawsuits over the years. One high-profile case involved an elderly woman in the early '90s who eventually settled for an undisclosed amount. In March of this year two separate claims were filed in the Chicago area.