I still think $2,000,000 borders on the ridiculous. It's hot coffee, for chrissakes.
I think the actual damages were set by the jury at $200,000.
The $2,000,000 was for punitive damages, but McDonald's appealed and that was later reduced to $480,000.
I think for the jury, it was the callous disregard of McDonald's for their customers and their arrogance that caused the punitive damages to be set so high.