Los Angeles — In a recent lawsuit, a Los Angeles man was awarded $50 million after he sustained severe burns from handling a tray of hot beverages at a Starbucks location in Southern California. The incident, which occurred in 2020, has generated widespread attention toward the handling and safety protocols of hot drinks in fast-food chains.
Michael Garcia, a delivery driver for Postmates, experienced grave injuries that included third-degree burns and nerve damage when a cup of boiling tea spilled onto his lap. The spill occurred seconds after an employee at the Exposition Park Starbucks handed him a tray with three venti-sized hot tea drinks through the drive-thru window. According to Garcia, the mishap was a result of the employee failing to secure the drink adequately in the tray.
Garcia’s injuries were profound and life-altering, leading to permanent damage to his genitals as well as severe psychological trauma, manifesting as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His legal representation staged a vigorous argument that Starbucks’ negligence was palpable, emphasizing that the lids on the beverages were not securely fastened, which contributed directly to the accident.
The trial, which concluded with the jury deliberating for just 40 minutes, resulted in a $50 million damages award to Garcia, signaling a significant acknowledgment of the pain and lasting harm he suffered. Nicholas Rowley, Garcia’s attorney, articulated the jury’s verdict as a crucial move towards holding Starbucks accountable for what he described as a flagrant disregard for customer safety.
According to Rowley, despite several surgeries, Garcia continues to endure daily pain and his life will never revert to what it was prior to the incident. Throughout the legal proceedings, evidence was introduced detailing the extensive medical treatments Garcia underwent, including skin grafts that have left him with permanent sensory loss in the affected areas.
Responding to the verdict, Starbucks indicated their disagreement with the jury’s decision. A spokesperson for the coffee giant expressed sympathy for Mr. Garcia but labeled the damages awarded as excessive. Stating a commitment to maintaining high safety standards in their stores, Starbucks also announced plans to appeal the decision.
This isn’t the first time Starbucks has faced criticism or legal actions concerning the handling of hot drinks. The company made attempts to settle the lawsuit before trial, initially offering $3 million and later increasing the proposal to $30 million which Garcia accepted.
Furthermore, Garcia’s demands extended beyond monetary compensation. He urged the company to issue an apology, revise their policies, and enforce stricter guidelines across all locations to ensure that all beverages are adequately secured before being handed to customers. However, Starbucks did not agree to these conditions, which played a role in the case moving to trial and the subsequent jury verdict.
This incident throws a spotlight on the broader implications for industry standards surrounding the safety with which hot beverages are served and underscores the need for rigorous adherence to safety protocols to avert similar occurrences in the future.
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