A Los Angeles County jury has ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million to a delivery driver who suffered severe burns after a drink spilled into his lap at one of the chain’s California drive-thru locations. Michael Garcia, 53, received third-degree burns and permanent injury to his genitals, including skin grafts on his penis, in the February 2020 incident.
Garcia had ordered three “medicine ball” drinks, which featured tea, lemonade, and honey, through a delivery app. At the drive-thru location, a barista negligently put one of the drinks with an unsecured lid in the to-go carrier with Garcia’s other two drinks. The lid popped off when the employee handed Garcia the tray, causing the drink to spill into his lap.
Surveillance footage provided by the plaintiff’s attorney showed that the barista did not properly secure the hot tea, which corroborated Garcia’s account of the incident. The jury deliberated for just 40 minutes before ordering Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to Garcia.
Garcia’s attorney, Nick Rowley, said the verdict was a “critical step in holding Starbucks accountable” for allegedly ignoring customer safety and failing to accept responsibility. A spokesperson for Starbucks stated that the chain sympathizes with Garcia but disagrees with the jury’s decision and plans to appeal. The plaintiff originally asked for $120 million in damages and had initially accepted an offer of $3 million from Starbucks, which was declined.
The verdict has left Garcia’s life “forever changed,” according to Rowley. While no amount of money can undo the permanent harm Garcia suffered, the jury’s decision is seen as a significant step in holding the coffee chain accountable for its alleged negligence.
Source: https://people.com/starbucks-ordered-to-pay-usd50-million-to-man-burned-in-drive-thru-11697881