- A California man won a multi-million dollar judgment against coffee giant Starbucks. Michael Garcia claimed he was badly burned when a hot drink spilled on him while he was at a drive-through in Los Angeles.
- A jury awarded him $50 million.
- Starbucks said it sympathizes with the man but disagrees with the amount awarded. The company also adhered to the highest safety standards when handling hot drinks.
Full Story
A California jury ordered Starbucks to pay big bucks for an incident that left a delivery driver burned several years ago. Jurors awarded the man $50 million.
What happened to the man who led the lawsuit?
The driver, Michael Garcia, alleged that he was picking up drinks at a drive-through at a Los Angeles Starbucks when an improperly secured lid led to a spill that left him severely burned.
According to his attorney, Garcia was picking up three beverages, and one of the hot drinks was not fully secured in the container. When the barista handed Garcia the order, the hot drink fell out of the container and spilled onto his lap.
What type of injuries did Garcia say he suffered?
The lawsuit claimed Garcia suffered severe burns, disfigurement and debilitating nerve damage to his genitals. It said that Garcia suffered damage including, but not limited to, physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress.
In 2020, Garcia filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court, accusing Starbucks of breaching its duty of care by failing to secure the lid.
What is the reaction from Starbucks?
Starbucks released a statement after the decision.
“We sympathize with Mr. Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages to be excessive,” the company said.
Starbucks said it intends to appeal the $50 million verdict and has consistently upheld the highest safety standards in handling hot beverages.
