Los Angeles, CA – A Los Angeles County jury recently awarded $50 million to Michael Garcia, a local resident, after he sustained severe burns from a hot beverage spill at a Starbucks drive-through in 2020. Garcia, a Postmates delivery driver at the time, claimed the tray holding his tea order collapsed, causing the drinks to spill onto his lap, as outlined in court testimonies.
The incident reportedly occurred at a Starbucks location in Exposition Park while Garcia was collecting an order consisting of three Venti hot teas. According to Garcia, the cardboard drink carrier failed during the handoff from a barista, leading to the drinks spilling and causing him significant injuries, including second and third-degree burns.
During his deposition, Garcia stated that the trauma led to multiple surgeries and enduring physical and emotional distress, including permanent disfigurement to his groin area and lasting sexual dysfunction. Medical records submitted in the trial corroborated his claims, indicating he underwent two skin graft procedures as a result of the injuries.
The jury’s decision on Friday reflects their agreement with Garcia’s assertion that Starbucks’ negligence contributed to his injuries. He had pointed to store security footage that, he argued, showed the drinks were not properly secured in the carrier and one lid visibly dislodged as they were handed to him.
Starbucks, headquartered in Seattle, announced its intention to appeal the verdict. Jaci Anderson, Starbucks’ Director of Corporate Communications, expressed sympathy for Garcia but disputed the jury’s findings. “We have always practiced the highest safety standards in handling hot beverages,” Anderson stated, adding that the company considers the damages awarded to be excessive.
This legal case revives memories of another high-profile lawsuit involving hot beverages, where McDonald’s faced a similarly substantial payout in 1994. Stella Liebeck received a $3 million jury award after being scalded by McDonald’s coffee, although her award was later significantly reduced. Like the current Starbucks case, Liebeck’s incident spurred widespread discussions and eventual calls for tort reform.
Before the trial, Starbucks had attempted to settle with Garcia for amounts of $3 million and later $30 million. However, Garcia conditioned his acceptance on the company issuing an apology and making policy changes to ensure better safety standards, which Starbucks declined.
This verdict comes amidst another pending lawsuit against Starbucks set for 2026, where South Los Angeles resident Muriel Evans claims similar negligence after suffering nerve damage and disfigurement from a hot coffee spill, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the service of hot beverages.
Legal experts view this case as a critical moment for accountability in the fast-food industry regarding how hot beverages are handled and served. The substantial jury award highlights the significant responsibility businesses have in ensuring the safety of their products to prevent injuring their customers.
This article was automatically generated by Open AI. Details and circumstances may be inaccurate, and corrections or retractions can be requested by contacting [email protected].