PHILADELPHIA – A woman who claims to have been burned by a cup of hot coffee she purchased at a North Philadelphia Dunkin’ Donuts will see her case reach a state-level courtroom next year.
According to a case management order released by Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Arnold L. New on Aug. 6, all discovery on the above matter shall be completed not later July 1 of next year, with all pre-trial motions to be filed before Aug. 5, 2019, and a pre-trial conference will be scheduled any time after Oct. 7, 2019. Finally, the case will be ready for trial on Nov. 4, 2019.
On April 10, Sylvia Whitfield of Elkins Park filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas versus Northeast Donut Shops Management Corporation, Northeast Donut Shops, and Dunkin’ Donuts, all of Philadelphia, plus Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., of Canton, Mass.
Back on April 25, 2016, Whitfield was at the drive-thru window of the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 6620 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, and was handed a cup of hot coffee by one of the defendants’ employees. At that time, the suit states, the lid unexpectedly dislodged from the coffee cup, and the hot coffee contained within the cup spilled onto the plaintiff’s left hand, burning her severely.
The suit explains the defendants allegedly failed to inspect the cup, permitted the existence of the loose lid, failed to correct that condition and failed to properly train its employees, among a long list of accompanying charges.
For a count of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
The plaintiff is represented by William C. Carlitz in Philadelphia.
The defendant is represented by William L. Thrall III of Fowler Hirtzel McNulty & Spaulding, also in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 180401206
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com