Plane passengers to sue over coffee spills

A female passenger plans to sue over the burns.

Picture: Herald Sun

A female passenger plans to sue over the burns.

Picture: Herald Sun

TWO plane passengers who claim they suffered severe burns when hot coffee was spilt on them plan to sue. 

 

The cases are a twist on the infamous McDonald's coffee case, where a woman was awarded $640,000 after spilling coffee on herself, the Herald Sun reported.

The two cases against the airlines are poised to be launched in Melbourne.

Last month a Melbourne woman was on a Pacific Blue flight to Bali when she says a flight attendant spilt scalding coffee on her, leaving her with severe burns from the base of her neck, down her chest to her abdomen.

The woman, who does not want to be identified, said the pain was intense and flight attendants took her to the galley to pour cold water over her chest.

When she returned to Australia she discovered she had suffered first and second degree burns.

Sebestien Cote-Paquin claims he was asleep on a Jetstar flight from Hawaii to Australia last November when he woke in fright to find a flight attendant had spilt hot coffee on his arm.

"I made a bit of noise and when I took off my shirt to stop more coffee dripping on to my arm, my skin just peeled off," he said.

The crew poured cold water over the Canadian man's arm for 20 minutes and a doctor on the flight bandaged the burns.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Andrew Dimsey, who is representing the pair, said the incidents were extremely distressing for them.

He said the passengers were entitled to sue the airlines for pain and suffering, as well as medical costs.

"Airlines have a clear responsibility to care for the wellbeing and safety of their passengers and while the cabin crew took action to help our clients, they have a legitimate right to make a claim seeking compensation," Mr Dimsey said.

The woman said her burns still hurt and she feared permanent scarring.

Flight attendants did the best they could, but she had been offered no support or assistance from the airline since returning home.

Virgin spokesman Melissa Thomson said the airline had no reports of the woman's alleged injuries or complaints from her.

"We have not received anything to date. We will respond when we do," Ms Thomson said.

A Jetstar spokesman said the airline was aware of Mr Cote-Paquin's complaint and was continuing to liaise with him directly.

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