In Los Angeles, a delivery driver clinched a $50 million verdict in a lawsuit following severe burns he sustained when a Starbucks beverage spilled onto his lap at a drive-through in California, according to court documents.
A jury from Los Angeles County ruled in favor of Michael Garcia, who underwent multiple medical interventions, including skin grafts, due to a venti-sized tea that spilled shortly after he was handed the drink on February 8, 2020. His legal team revealed the incident resulted in lasting disfigurement that altered his life permanently.
Garcia’s lawsuit accused Starbucks of negligence, asserting that a store employee failed to secure the hot tea properly in a takeout tray, leading to his injuries.
One of Garcia’s lawyers, Nick Rowley, emphasized the significance of the jury’s decision as a step toward holding Starbucks accountable for allegedly neglecting customer safety and shirking responsibility.
While Starbucks expressed sympathy for Garcia’s ordeal, the company announced intentions to appeal the verdict.
“We respectfully disagree with the jury’s conclusion that found us at fault for this incident, and we find the damages awarded to be disproportionate,” stated the Seattle-headquartered coffee corporation, reiterating its dedication to high safety practices when dealing with hot beverages.
This case is reminiscent of other incidents faced by U.S. dining establishments concerning customer burns.
A notable case in the 1990s saw a New Mexico jury granting nearly $3 million in damages to a woman burned while attempting to remove the lid from a McDonald’s coffee cup at their drive-through. Although this award was later minimized, the incident settled for an undisclosed sum beneath $600,000.
Juries have, on occasion, sided with restaurants, as evidenced by another 1990s episode involving a child spilling a McDonald’s coffee in Iowa.
