Los Angeles Jury Grants Man $50 Million in Lawsuit Over Severe Burns from Starbucks Tea Spill

Los Angeles — A Los Angeles jury has awarded $50 million to Michael Garcia, a local man who sustained lifelong injuries after being scalded by hot tea during a Starbucks drive-thru transaction. The incident, which occurred in 2023, has left Garcia with severe and permanent injuries to his genitals, impacting his quality of life significantly. The lawsuit against Starbucks brought attention to the safety protocols employed during the drive-thru service. According to court documents, the tea was handed to Garcia without a secure lid, which led to the beverage spilling into his lap as he … Read more

$50 Million Verdict Against Starbucks After Delivery Driver Suffers Severe Burns from Spilled Tea

LOS ANGELES — A California jury has ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to Michael Garcia, a delivery driver who suffered severe burns after a hot tea spill incident. The legal battle, which culminated in a recent verdict, began after Garcia claimed he was injured by a poorly secured beverage handed to him at a Starbucks drive-thru in 2020. Garcia, who was working as a Postmates driver at the time of the incident, visited a Starbucks location in February 2020, where he ordered three venti-sized hot teas. According to Garcia’s legal team from … Read more

California Man Wins $50 Million in Lawsuit Against Starbucks Over Severe Burns from Hot Tea

San Bernardino, California – A California man seriously burned by spilled tea he purchased at a Starbucks has been awarded $50 million in damages, a significant decision highlighting corporate responsibility and customer safety. Tommy Piluyev was at a drive-through in Roseville in October 2018 when he sustained second and third-degree burns. The lid of his hot tea came off as a Starbucks employee handed him two beverages through his car window, resulting in near-boiling water pouring over his hands, stomach, and pelvic area. The burns were so severe that they reached deep into his muscle … Read more

$50 Million Verdict: Jury Holds Starbucks Liable for Severe Burns to Delivery Driver in Lap-Spill Incident

Los Angeles, California — In a case reminiscent of the infamous 1992 McDonald’s coffee lawsuit, a California jury has awarded a former delivery driver $50 million after he suffered severe burns from a spill involving a Starbucks beverage. The incident, which echoes historical debates over corporate responsibility and customer safety, marks one of the largest payouts in recent memory for such a claim. Michael Garcia, who was working for Postmates at the time, experienced the mishap on February 8, 2020, while picking up orders at a Starbucks drive-through in Los Angeles. During the handoff, one … Read more