A A California jury has ordered Starbucks to pay a whopping $50 million in damages to Michael Garcia, a delivery driver who suffered severe burns from an improperly secured lid on hot beverages ¹. This incident occurred in 2020 when Garcia was picking up drinks at a drive-through in Los Angeles. As he received his order, one of the hot drinks fell out of the container and spilled onto his lap, causing severe burns, disfigurement, and debilitating nerve damage.
According to Garcia’s lawyer, Michael Parker, the barista had handed Garcia an order of three beverages, but one of the hot drinks wasn’t fully pushed into the container. This oversight led to the devastating accident. The lawsuit accused Starbucks of breaching its duty of care by failing to secure the lid, highlighting concerns about the company’s safety practices.
Garcia’s injuries have had a profound impact on his life, resulting in physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, inconvenience, grief, disfigurement, physical impairment, anxiety, and emotional distress. The jury’s verdict acknowledges the severity of Garcia’s suffering and holds Starbucks accountable for their negligence.
Starbucks has announced plans to appeal the verdict, stating that they sympathize with Garcia but disagree with the jury’s decision. The company claims to have always been committed to the highest safety standards in their stores, including the handling of hot drinks. However, this incident raises questions about the effectiveness of their safety protocols.
This case bears similarities to a famous 1994 lawsuit against McDonald’s, in which a woman named Stella Liebeck suffered third-degree burns from spilled hot coffee. Liebeck was originally awarded nearly $3 million in damages. The parallels between these two cases highlight the ongoing concerns about beverage temperature and safety practices in the fast-food industry.
