# Woman sues for burned chin, man sues for loss of comfort-punch lines write themselves **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526 "2005-12-01T05:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/21 "2005-12-01T20:29:18Z")
IIRC, third degree burns means charred flesh. I find the idea that hot oil, even fresh in the fryer itself would deliver third degree burns. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/22 "2005-12-01T20:39:17Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > IIRC, third degree burns means charred flesh. > > I find the idea that hot oil, even fresh in the fryer itself would deliver third degree burns. You find the idea what? Hot oil is a great source of 3rd degree burns. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/23 "2005-12-01T20:51:14Z")
I doubt she burned herself on hot oil. The poppers wouldn’t have been filled with hot oil - it was most likely the hot molten cheese that burned her. Yes, they’re deep-fried in oil, but then they’re drained for a few minutes. She probably bit into one and had the melted cheese spurt out and burn her. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/24 "2005-12-01T20:56:47Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I doubt she burned herself on hot oil. The poppers wouldn’t have been filled with hot oil - it was most likely the hot molten cheese that burned her. > Yes, they’re deep-fried in oil, but then they’re drained for a few minutes. She probably bit into one and had the melted cheese spurt out and burn her. Actually, I reread the article and part of her complaint is that the oil wasn’t drained from the poppers. Had missed that the first time I read it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/25 "2005-12-01T21:10:15Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > And actually I find it kind of refreshing that they’re asking for $25000 (to cover medical expenses?) and not a bizzilion as is usually asked for. “They are suing Pizza Hut for **at least** $25,000 **each**.” Plus, she’ll probably want that for each chin. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/26 "2005-12-01T21:18:53Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I doubt she burned herself on hot oil. The poppers wouldn’t have been filled with hot oil - it was most likely the hot molten cheese that burned her. > Yes, they’re deep-fried in oil, but then they’re drained for a few minutes. She probably bit into one and had the melted cheese spurt out and burn her. What TellMeI’mNotCrazy said. And really, isn’t this the point? Poppers should be served drained of oil. Were they? If she was badly burned perhaps it’s because they weren’t. You doubt it? Do you know? That’s why there’s a lawsuit, something went wrong in this case. ---
**Author:** ![snorlax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@snorlax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snorlax)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/27 "2005-12-01T21:39:04Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Plus, she’ll probably want that for each chin. Brilliant! By the way, what exactly does “permanently impaired” mean with respect to a chin? I thought an impairment was when something didn’t function correctly, like hearing or eyesight. What does a chin stop doing after it’s been burnt? ---
**Author:** ![snorlax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@snorlax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snorlax)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/28 "2005-12-01T21:43:45Z")
Here’s an [expanded article](http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b7_1hotpopnov28,0,7829912.story?coll=all-newsopinionletters-hed) which clears up some of the above speculation. Looks like a second-degree burn. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/29 "2005-12-01T21:45:52Z")
> [@snorlax](#): > > I thought an impairment was when something didn’t function correctly, like hearing or eyesight. What does a chin stop doing after it’s been burnt? \ ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/30 "2005-12-01T22:00:10Z")
Who else can picture _Jackie Chiles_ as the lawyer? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/31 "2005-12-01T23:58:41Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > You find the idea what? err hard to believe > [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Hot oil is a great source of 3rd degree burns. It never seemed to have the effect on raw flesh / meat. I mean, it cooked the meat very well, but as far as charring, never seen it from a fryer. Perhaps if the grease were one of the kinds that’re used at temps above 350F - 375F. But, I’ve never seen meat exposed to that kind in a deep fryer. Maybe I have a misunderstanding about what constitutes charred flesh? Doesn’t that mean the blackened, carbonized stuff or even the ashy white stuff? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/32 "2005-12-02T00:03:29Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > And really, isn’t this the point? Poppers should be served drained of oil. Were they? If she was badly burned perhaps it’s because they weren’t. You doubt it? Do you know? That’s why there’s a lawsuit, something went wrong in this case. Draining the poppers’d only get rid of the grease on the outside. If the grease on the outside of the popper was hot enough to burn her chin, it would have burned her fingers. I suppose she may have eaten it w/ a fork. If there was grease caught on the inside of the popper, which seems to be not too terribly outlandish of proposition, draining it the normal way wouldn’t’ve _necessarily_ removed the internal grease. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/33 "2005-12-02T00:10:08Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Draining the poppers’d only get rid of the grease on the outside. If the grease on the outside of the popper was hot enough to burn her chin, it would have burned her fingers. I suppose she may have eaten it w/ a fork. Scratch the fork idea: Hassanin, the suit says, ‘‘observed that the Poppers were\*\* warm to the _touch_\*\*.’’ ‘‘When I **picked them up from my plate and they felt warm,** nice,’’ she said. ‘‘When I bit, the hot cheese squirted out. I had a big piece of cheese stuck on my chin.’’ > [@PatriotX](#): > > If there was grease caught on the inside of the popper, which seems to be not too terribly outlandish of proposition, draining it the normal way wouldn’t’ve _necessarily_ removed the internal grease. Of course the restaurant bears some responsibility because they were the ones who cooked and served the food, but I don’t think that negligence on their part for a failure to drain is legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/34 "2005-12-02T01:47:12Z")
I refuse to get into this other than to post that frying oil has to be in a fairly narrow temp range to fry properly. Below about 325F and the food gets oil soaked. Above about 375 (varies with type of oil used) the oil smokes, and the food won’t cook properly. Hell get about 400 and there is a danger of fire with some oils. So how can the oil be ‘‘excessively hot’’ ? 😕 Note to this couple’s lawyer, don’t allow anybody that knows about cooking on the jury. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/35 "2005-12-02T01:59:56Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Er…and really, if you’re served something and it explodes when you eat it, it’s your fault? What if steel bolts shoot through your cheeks? What if there’s a frog in it? Don’t you even take the bones out? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/36 "2005-12-02T02:03:47Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So how can the oil be ‘‘excessively hot’’ ? 😕 Easy: if it’s inside the popper, then it’s insulated. It’s not excessively hot for frying things in; it’s excessively hot for being served at the table. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/37 "2005-12-02T02:42:56Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Don’t tell my wife. She doesn’t know she’s supposed to stop. Still have to wear the Sean Hannity mask? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/38 "2005-12-02T03:13:57Z")
I noticed the second article said she had never had poppers before. Now, I haven’t eaten poppers (I loathe jalepenos), but any “stuffed” type food, like hot pockets, cheese sticks, pop tarts, etc, tend to keep heat in waaaay longer than the outside cools. My solution is usually to cut it in half, to allow the inside to cool. It sounds like she was injured pretty bad, but it also sounds like an accident, and not Pizza Hut’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/39 "2005-12-02T03:23:21Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I noticed the second article said she had never had poppers before. Now, I haven’t eaten poppers (I loathe jalepenos), but any “stuffed” type food, like hot pockets, cheese sticks, pop tarts, etc, tend to keep heat in waaaay longer than the outside cools. My solution is usually to cut it in half, to allow the inside to cool. > > It sounds like she was injured pretty bad, but it also sounds like an accident, and not Pizza Hut’s fault. Well-there’s the rub. You’ve applied common sense to the situation as well as admitting that accidents happen. We can’t have that sort of thing in today’s courtroom-muddies up the argument, you see? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526/40 "2005-12-02T03:45:29Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Maybe I have a misunderstanding about what constitutes charred flesh? Doesn’t that mean the blackened, carbonized stuff or even the ashy white stuff? You are describing part of the appearance of common 4th degree burns, not a 3rd degree burn. A third-degree burn is a full thickness burn. This type of burn destroys the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and the entire layer beneath (or dermis). Scalding liquids are the most common causes of 3rd degree burns. 155 degree (Fahrenheit) water can cause a 3rd degree burn in 1 to 2 seconds. So imagine what damage oil over 200 degrees could do. A fourth degree burn is like a 3rd degree save it penetrates beyond the skin to destroy muscles, tendons, and blood vessels, or anything else in its way. It usually requires prolonged exposure to flame, or a severe electrical burn, so some charring will probably be present. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-sues-for-burned-chin-man-sues-for-loss-of-comfort-punch-lines-write-themselves/333526.md?page=3)