Why Is Your Child's Safety The Responsibility Of Some Stranger Who Sold You Instant Soup?
Angie Angers and Susan Hogan write at WPRI about a California mom planning to sue a maker of instant noodle soup in the wake of her 3-year-old son being severely burned after the soup spilled on him:
Burn doctors across the country say instant cups of soup may pose a serious hazard to children, and it may have to do with how the containers are designed.3-year-old Jolan Beam suffered severe burns after his mom says a cup of hot noodle soup spilled on him.
"He climbed into his seat, so I guess my daughter realized he was there so she went to move the noodles, and as she went to move them, it toppled over and it just spilled in his lap completely," said Jolan's mother Latisha.
Latisha says the hot soup caused second and third degree burns to his lap, requiring numerous skin grafts. She says Jolan has had four operations already and will need more.
I'm thinking suing her daughter or herself would prove far less lucrative.
(Friends of mine who are parents test the temperature of food before they serve it to their toddlers.)
"3-year-old Jolan Beam suffered severe burns after his mom says a cup of hot noodle soup spilled on him."
Soup is evil. It's been hanging out with guns. It just can't wait to maim and kill on its own.
Who is this idiot going to sue for a sunburn? A bottle of Coppertone, for not rushing out to save her baby?
Radwaste at March 19, 2013 2:44 AM
The comments at the WPRI story sure aren't giving the potential plaintiff any love. Second and third degree burns? Cripes, just how hot was that soup? I can understand the mother's horror and anguish, but for crying out loud, she served a three-year-old something hot enough to burn him badly. What was she thinking?
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at March 19, 2013 5:08 AM
"Who is this idiot going to sue for a sunburn? A bottle of Coppertone, for not rushing out to save her baby?"
Don't give her any ideas.
Cousin Dave at March 19, 2013 6:32 AM
Let me guess. The cup of soup filled itself with boiling water, then attacked her child. Like a pit bull. Bad soup.
With all due respect to the doctors, the intelligence of the mother DOES pose a serious hazzard to the child. let's have the state step in and fix this, because there's nothing they can't do.
MarkD at March 19, 2013 7:16 AM
she served a three-year-old something hot enough to burn him badly. What was she thinking?
I eat soup for lunch at work. It's simple, easy, and best of all, I don't have to use the communal fridge.
But my soup is never that hot. Ever. Damn, I guess I'll miss out on the lottery that I could win by suing Campbells and the manufacturer of the microwave. And since I use a glass bowl, I suppose in dropping it I might break it and impale my feet on a broken shard.
Damn it. I'm leaving some money on the table.
I R A Darth Aggie at March 19, 2013 8:01 AM
let's have the state step in and fix this, because there's nothing they can't do.
Thread winner. Also.
I R A Darth Aggie at March 19, 2013 8:04 AM
So we do not have to be responsible for our own children now? Thank god that was getting exhausting... Jeez just when I thought I had seen the epitome of stupidity there is now a new front runner!
Lindsey at March 19, 2013 8:39 AM
The problem is not hot soup. The problems are cups and tables.
Since cups and glasses often have a high center of gravity there is more chance of accidental spillages. As many parents can attest with spilt milk and ensuing crying. Thus children under the age of 12 need to be prevented from using glasses and cups. Not unless said glass or cup has a child proof cup lid. Even then, it is best to reserve judgment to your local CPS agency. In the mean time young children should drink from wide bottom bowls or even dishes.
The other culprit is tables and other high surfaces for children. Children are naturally short so they have to reach for things which increases chances of accidents. Add in the height increases the chance of spillage or items falling ONTO the child. So children under the age of 12 should not eat at a table. For their safety they should eat on the ground.
Please prevent food spills and accidents and have your children eat of the flour via special food dishes. For extra security since children can burn sensitive fingers they should learn to eat without hands.
John Paulson at March 19, 2013 9:46 AM
Ditto to all above?
There's no reason that I could fathom to sue anyone else if my child gets burnt by anything, unless it heated up on its own and exploded. I test everything before my children touch it and keep it out of their reach until it's comfortable enough.
NikkiG at March 19, 2013 10:17 AM
So, the soup "just spilled?" And spilled completely? It wasn't knocked over or jostled in any way?
Dalrymple wrote of similar experience one of his inmate/patients had. He didn't stab anyone, the knife "went in."
Conan the Grammarian at March 19, 2013 11:05 AM
Dalrymple link for comment above:
http://www.city-journal.org/article01.php?aid=1371
Conan the Grammarian at March 19, 2013 11:06 AM
"Latisha"?
Damn, girl. Way to play to the stereotype.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at March 19, 2013 2:13 PM
John Paulson, your comment had me laughing so hard I nearly choked on my hamburger
lujlp at March 19, 2013 2:35 PM
A lawyer probably told her it would help keep Child Protective Services off her back if she agreed to filed a lawsuit before they arrived.
Dwatney at March 19, 2013 4:39 PM
Am I the only one who thinks she did something bad to her kid and is blaming it on the soup to avoid charges of abuse? I mean, come on, third and second degree burns? That sounds like she poured boiling water on him on purpose.
Dragonhawk at March 19, 2013 5:59 PM
Personal responsibility is dead.
Seriously, if you can't keep hot soup away from your kid, you probably shouldn't have the kid.
Daghain at March 19, 2013 7:08 PM
My thought was the same as DragonHawk. Is she covering up something? I mean lets say the soup didn't spill and instead the child ate the soup. Then there are burns in the mouth and throat...maybe even stomach. The spilling only determined what part of the body was burned.
The only way I can think of that I might be willing to go along with this is if the directions on the soup were something similar to
1. add boiling hot water to instant soup bowl.
2. power boiling soup on diner.
....
The Former Banker at March 19, 2013 7:25 PM
If you had choked, luljp, you could sue the store that sold you the meat, the slaughterhouse, and the farmer.
Sosij at March 19, 2013 9:21 PM
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