Jacksonville, Fla. — A Florida jury has ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to a customer who suffered severe burns after spilling a cup of hot coffee. The incident, which has rekindled discussions about the safety protocols of serving hot beverages, culminated in a substantial verdict on Thursday following a lawsuit centered around the consequences of potentially hazardous serving practices.
The plaintiff, Joanne Mogavero, sustained first and second-degree burns when the lid of her coffee cup dislodged as she attempted to pass the drink to a passenger in her car. According to court documents, the 190-degree Fahrenheit beverage spilled over her lap during the incident, which occurred in 2014.
The legal battle centered on the claim that Starbucks was negligent in securing the lid properly and failed to warn Mogavero effectively about the risks associated with the temperature of the drink. Throughout the trial, evidence was presented indicating that Starbucks might have been aware of the risk as other similar incidents had been reported prior to Mogavero’s case.
In delivering their verdict, the jury found Starbucks 80% responsible for the mishap while assigning 20% of the blame to Mogavero for her actions leading to the spill. Mogavero’s attorneys argued that the coffee giant should be held accountable for maintaining safer standards in serving hot beverages.
This case echoes the infamous 1994 lawsuit where McDonald’s faced a similar situation after an elderly woman was burned by hot coffee, resulting in a jury awarding her $2.7 million in punitive damages, later reduced by a judge to $480,000. The Starbucks case highlights ongoing concerns about the temperatures at which hot drinks are served and the adequacy of warnings provided to customers.
Following the verdict, Starbucks issued a statement expressing their sympathy for Ms. Mogavero but disagreeing with the jury’s decision. The company highlighted its commitment to customer safety and reassured that they would take the necessary steps to ensure the welfare of their patrons.
Consumer safety advocates have cited this case as a critical reminder of the responsibilities of food and beverage retailers to uphold high safety standards. The implications of the verdict could prompt industry-wide evaluations on how hot beverages are served, including the design and security of lids and the clarity of warnings to customers.
As the case concludes, attention has turned to whether new standards or regulations will be implemented in the retail food industry to further protect consumers and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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