Starbucks has been ordered by a jury in the US state of California to pay $50m in damages to a delivery driver who sustained severe burns after a hot beverage spilled on him due to a poorly secured lid.
On 8 February 2020, Michael Garcia experienced a life-altering incident at a Starbucks drive-through in Los Angeles when a hot drink from his order spilled onto him, leading to third-degree burns, nerve damage and disfigurement.
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According to court filings, the barista on duty had failed to secure the lid properly, resulting in the spill.
Garcia’s attorney, Michael Parker, stated that his client received a drink carrier with three beverages, but one of the hot drinks was not securely placed, causing it to fall and spill onto Garcia’s lap.
The resulting spill caused extensive injuries that were both physically and emotionally devastating, adversely affecting Garcia’s quality of life.
The jury ruled in Garcia’s favour, awarding substantial compensation based on his physical pain, mental distress and long-term impairment.
Starbucks intends to challenge the ruling by filing an appeal.
Company spokesperson Jaci Anderson said: “We sympathise with Mr Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive. We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks,” according to reports in the Los Angeles Daily News.
The case echoes the 1994 lawsuit against McDonald’s where Stella Liebeck suffered third-degree burns after spilling hot coffee on herself.
Liebeck was initially awarded almost $3m.
