Starbucks Must Pay $50M After Customer Suffers Severe Tea Burns in Drive-Thru Incident
A California jury has awarded $50 million to Michael Garcia in a lawsuit against Starbucks following severe burns from a spilled hot tea incident at a Los Angeles drive-thru.
Starbucks storefront in India
The Incident On February 8, 2020, Garcia received a takeout tray containing multiple hot drinks, including a venti tea, through a Starbucks drive-thru. An improperly secured drink spilled, causing severe burns to his body and genitals, requiring multiple skin grafts and resulting in permanent disfigurement.
Legal Arguments Garcia's legal team argued that Starbucks failed to properly secure drinks before serving customers, demonstrating negligence and breach of duty of care. Starbucks countered that Garcia failed to handle the beverages carefully, but the jury ultimately ruled in his favor.
Reasons for the $50 Million Award
- Severity of permanent physical injuries
- Extensive medical treatments required
- Starbucks' rejection of earlier settlement offers ($3M and $30M)
- Evidence of company negligence in drink preparation
- Similarity to previous hot beverage cases
Starbucks' Response The company plans to appeal the verdict, calling the damages "excessive" while reaffirming their commitment to safety standards. The appeal process could extend for months or years.
Impact This landmark ruling could lead to:
- New safety protocols at drive-thru establishments
- Enhanced hot beverage serving procedures
- Increased focus on corporate responsibility
- Greater awareness of customer safety measures
The case serves as both a cautionary tale for customers handling hot beverages and a reminder of corporate responsibility in ensuring product safety.