Los Angeles, CA — A California jury awarded $50 million to a delivery driver who sustained severe burns from a Starbucks beverage. The incident, which resulted in permanent and considerable physical and psychological damage, took place at a drive-through in Los Angeles County on February 8, 2020.
Michael Garcia, the driver, was collecting a venti-sized “Medicine Ball” tea, a popular off-menu item known for its meld of lemonade, green tea, peach tea, and honey, purported to alleviate symptoms of the common cold. The hot beverage spilled onto Garcia, leading to his hospitalization and necessitating multiple skin grafts, particularly affecting his genitals.
Legal representatives for Garcia articulated that he has endured “disfigurement, pain, dysfunction, and psychological harm” resulting from the burns, forcing him to live with these consequences for over five years. The incident allegedly occurred because an employee failed to secure the tea firmly in the takeaway tray.
In response to the lawsuit, Starbucks proposed a $30 million settlement with the condition of confidentiality. However, Garcia’s legal team rejected this offer, demanding the same amount without confidentiality and calling for a public apology and a commitment from Starbucks to amend their safety policies.
During the trial, Nick Rowley, one of Garcia’s attorneys, emphasized that the verdict is crucial in holding Starbucks accountable for what he described as “flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to take responsibility.”
Starbucks, the Seattle-based coffee giant, expressed sympathy for Garcia but disagreed with the jury’s findings, describing the damages as “excessive” and indicating plans to appeal. The company reiterated its commitment to the highest safety standards in handling hot beverages.
This legal outcome echoes previous lawsuits involving hot beverage injuries at U.S. restaurants. Notably, in the 1990s, a New Mexico jury awarded nearly $3 million to a woman who was burned by McDonald’s coffee, although that amount was later reduced, and the case settled for less than $600,000. In another case from the same decade, a jury sided with McDonald’s when a child was injured in a similar incident in Iowa.
The recent verdict is not only a significant financial judgment but also highlights ongoing concerns over the safety practices of food and beverage providers, particularly involving hot drinks served at drive-through windows.
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