Los Angeles, CA — A Los Angeles jury awarded $50 million to a local man on Friday, culminating a lawsuit against Starbucks, where he sustained severe burns from a spilled tea in 2020. The incident occurred at a drive-thru in Exposition Park, drastically altering the life of Michael Garcia, a Postmates driver handling a delivery at the time.
Garcia was waiting at the window of the Starbucks located at 1789 West Jefferson Boulevard when he was handed a tray containing three large "medicine ball" hot teas. Tragically, one of the drinks toppled out of the carrier almost immediately, spilling over him and causing severe burns, as depicted in the store’s security footage.
The legal arguments focused heavily on the lack of care in securing the lid of the tea cup that caused the accident. According to court documents, the cup was not properly affixed to the tray, leading to the lid coming off and the scalding liquid causing third-degree burns on Garcia’s lap within merely 1.4 seconds of receiving his order.
Garcia’s injuries were extensive and life-changing. He suffered third-degree burns, resulting in substantial nerve damage and permanent injuries to sensitive areas, including his genitals. His legal representatives have stated that despite undergoing multiple surgeries and continuous treatment for pain, Garcia still endures daily discomfort and severe PTSD.
Nicholas Rowley, Garcia’s attorney, expressed after the verdict, "Michael Garcia’s life has been forever changed. No amount of money can restore the permanent and catastrophic harm he has suffered; however, this jury verdict marks a significant milestone in holding Starbucks culpable for their significant oversight and their refusal to accept responsibility."
Deliberations were brief, with jurors taking about 40 minutes to decide in Garcia’s favor. Rowley highlighted the jury’s acknowledgment of what he described as "gross negligence," resulting in a life-altering injury.
Reacting to the ruling, a Starbucks spokesperson voiced disagreement and dubbed the damages excessive. "While we sympathize with Mr. Garcia, we disagree with the jury’s conclusion that Starbucks was at fault, and we consider the awarded damages to be excessive. We are committed to the highest safety standards and plan to appeal this decision."
In addition to his ongoing medical treatments at the Grossman Burn Center, which began immediately after the accident, Garcia’s attorneys shared that the injuries have long-term implications, including permanent diminished sensation and ongoing pain.
The case reached this conclusion after Starbucks had initially proposed settlements of $3 million, later increased to $30 million. However, these were contingent on the company not being required to issue an apology or alter their existing beverage handling policies—a term Garcia insisted upon, pushing the matter to trial.
This is not the first instance of legal action against the coffee giant for injuries sustained from beverage spills at their drive-thru facilities. Similar cases have been reported, including a 2018 incident involving a young man in Northern California experiencing significant burns.
A year prior, a Denver woman also pursued legal action against Starbucks after suffering severe scalding injuries in a similar scenario, which tragically involved the death of her dog.
Disclaimer: This article was automatically generated by Open AI. All individuals, details, circumstances, and narratives described in this article may be inaccurate. Corrections, retractions, or removal requests can be directed to [email protected].