I think most systems shutdown when the CPU temperature reaches 100ºC or more, unless that setting is changed (don't know how, maybe some BIOS allow that).
Actually, it's a funny thing, today I was at a neighbour's house, an old man, who many times asks me for advice or troubleshooting when he has problems. Today I teached him how to open the computer's case, disassemble the components, and clean the dust off. I removed the cpu to show him how it was, and so on. I noticed the termal paste was kind of solid (and this sytem is only one year old), but I assembled everything again and took no notice. When I restarted the computer, it just kept constantly booting, it wouldn't even be one minute on. Eventually I checked system temps at the bios menu and the CPU was at 80ºC up!
I imediatly went home and brought thermal paste, cleaned the old one off the cooler and the CPU, reassembled everything very tightly, and shabang, system on again, CPU temp went down to 50ºC.
All this story to tell you this: your CPU might not making contact with the dissipator. That will make the heat stay in the CPU, making it reach insane temperatures. Another possibility woulld be old and solid thermal paste that won't transport heat from the CPU to the dissipator effectivly.
From what I understood, your laptop is still under warranty right? Because if it isn't, you might want to open it and check your CPU. Buy some thermal paste (really cheap, like 2€ -3€ (2.5$ - 3.5$) and replace the old one.
Anyway, terrible answer you got from them. Do whatever you can to solve that problem. One thing is for sure: you can't leave your computer to work in those temperatures. Either make them replace or have it repaired.
Good luck!