My science isn't way off - the boiling point for water (not "liquids", it depends on the liquid) is 100 degrees Celsius at sea level. I'd simply forgotten that the US uses a different temperature scale, so when people on here were referring to 50 degrees, they meant 50 US Farenheit degrees (and I have no idea what that is in Celsius).

However, having read the facts of the case that Catus and Tristan posted, I agree that it does seem that McDonald's were culpable. I'd assumed that the woman was sitting in a McDonald's cafe drinking her coffee, and spilled it.

And as a side issue, why 212 for boiling point? I'm not disputing this is the figure, but enquiring minds want to know - why? Where did it come from - anyone know?