In 2002, a teenage girl and her grandparents were flying on a plane owned and operated by a major commercial airline company.  During the flight, an attendant who was serving drinks from a drink cart caused a pot of hot coffee to spill onto the lap of the young girl.  The intensely hot liquid caused 1^st and 2^nd degree burns to the teenager’s inner thighs, external genitalia and buttocks.  She painfully endured the remainder of the flight and, once the plane landed, received medical treatment at the University of North Carolina.  When the painful burns finally healed, she was left with some mild skin discoloration but no other limitations.  Medical bills for her care totaled approximately $600.00.       

The parents of the injured teen contacted Clete Blakeman and Blakeman Law pc to pursue a claim against the airline company.   The airline’s safety protocol and the expectation of use of “no spill” and “locking lid” containers for hot liquid were investigated.  Ultimately, the airline company agreed to a $70,000.00 settlement before the case was set for trial.