A California jury has awarded Michael Garcia, a delivery driver, $50 million after he was severely burned by a spilled Starbucks drink in 2020. The Los Angeles County jury found that the coffee shop’s negligence led to Garcia’s injuries, including permanent and life-changing disfigurement.
Garcia had ordered a venti-sized tea drink through a drive-thru and collected it on February 8, 2020, when an employee allegedly failed to wedge the scalding-hot beverage firmly into a takeout tray. The incident left Garcia with severe burns and required skin grafts and other medical procedures.
Starbucks has expressed sympathy for Garcia but plans to appeal the verdict, stating that they disagree with the jury’s decision and believe the damages awarded are excessive. The company claims to have high safety standards in handling hot drinks.
This is not the first lawsuit over customer burns at restaurants. A New Mexico woman won nearly $3 million in damages in a 1990s case involving a McDonald’s drive-thru, although the award was later reduced. In another instance, a child who spilled coffee on himself at a McDonald’s in Iowa received compensation.
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Source: https://www.newser.com/story/365777/man-burned-by-starbucks-tea-wins-50m.html