It actually comes down to taking responsibility for oneself.
Coffee is supposed to be brewed/percolated at slightly less than boiling point - 100*C here and 212*F at sea level where F rules. 182*F is considerably lower than BP and if one applied the "reasonable man (PC - 'person')" test, the questions that should be asked are whether a "reasonable man" would:
a. expect freshly brewed coffee to be hot enough to burn if spilled;
b. put a flexible container between his legs;
c. when the accident happens, blame the supplier and sue!
Usually, one expects to "pay" (one way or another) for "self inflicted injuries" - most of which are the result of temporary stupidity.
This accident nearly qualified for the Darwin society's awards - hey, maybe some ambulance chaser can go and help the heirs out there too. See
The Darwin Awards if you're a lawyer who likes Atticus' logic and needs the business
