Los Angeles – A California jury has ordered Starbucks to compensate a delivery driver with a $50 million payout after he suffered severe burns from a spilled hot tea. The incident, which left the man with significant injuries, spotlighted ongoing concerns regarding the safety protocols surrounding the handling of hot beverages in the fast-food industry.
Michael Garcia, the plaintiff in this case, experienced the life-altering injuries while picking up an order from a Starbucks drive-thru in Los Angeles on February 8, 2020. Garcia, who was working for the delivery service Postmates at the time, ordered three venti-sized “medicine balls” – a popular drink also known as Honey Citrus Mint Tea.
The lawsuit detailed how, upon collecting the drinks placed in a carrier, one of the cups toppled over and poured scalding tea onto Garcia’s lap, leading to third-degree burns on his penis, groin, and inner thighs. Following the incident, Garcia was rushed to the emergency room for immediate treatment, which later included two skin graft surgeries as part of his prolonged recovery.
Garcia’s attorneys argued that the accident was a direct result of negligence on the part of Starbucks, emphasizing that nothing could have been done by Garcia to prevent the spill. The jury sided with this perspective, attributing full responsibility to Starbucks for the mishap and its consequences.
In a statement, Starbucks expressed its disagreement with the jury’s findings. Jaci Anderson, the company’s director of corporate communications, remarked, “We sympathize with Mr. Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive. We plan to appeal.” Anderson also reinforced the company’s commitment to high safety standards at their locations.
The deliberation led by Nick Rowley, Garcia’s attorney, branded this verdict as a pivotal moment to hold Starbucks accountable, seeking to spotlight the importance of utmost care in customer interactions, especially when handling potentially hazardous items like hot beverages.
This case echoes a familiar narrative in the realm of quick-service restaurants and their liabilities with hot drinks. It harks back to the renowned 1992 lawsuit where Stella Liebeck was awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages after suffering third-degree burns from a McDonald’s coffee that spilled in her lap. The verdict, though later reduced, sparked widespread media attention and brought significant criticism of corporate practices regarding beverage temperatures.
Adding to this history, in September 2023, another lawsuit emerged when Mable Childress sued a Bay Area McDonald’s, alleging negligence after a poorly secured coffee cup lid led to injuries similar to those of Garcia.
These incidents underline the ongoing legal and ethical challenges confronting the food and beverage industry, bringing to the forefront the vital need for meticulous attention to consumer safety and the implementation of rigorous standards to prevent such accidents.
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