Million

$700 Million Awarded in Landmark Case Over Tragic Spring Break Murder of New York Teen

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina jury granted a staggering $700 million in damages to the family of Brittanee Drexel, a 17-year-old girl from New York who was abducted and killed during a spring break vacation in Myrtle Beach in 2009. The civil lawsuit, initiated by Drexel’s mother Dawn Pleckan in January 2023, targeted not only Raymond Moody, the perpetrator, but also implicated Bar Harbor Resort Inc. and Smith Family Partners LLC for alleged negligence linked to the teenager’s tragic death. The jury’s decision last month awarded $200 million in actual damages and an additional … Read more

$50 Million Verdict: Jury Sides with Delivery Driver in Starbucks Hot Tea Burn Incident

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Los Angeles, CA — A California jury has ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million to a delivery driver who suffered severe burns after a tea purchased from one of its locations spilled on him. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, concluded a legal battle that highlights potential safety hazards associated with hot beverages served at popular coffee chains. Tommy Piluyev was injured in October 2018 while at the drive-thru of a Starbucks in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento. As he received two hot teas from a barista, the lid on one of the cups unexpectedly came off, … Read more

$50 Million Verdict Rocks Starbucks After Scalding Tea Incident Leaves Man Disfigured

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Los Angeles, CA – A Los Angeles court awarded $50 million to Michael Garcia, a delivery driver who sustained severe burns after a hot tea spill at a local Starbucks drive-through. The incident occurred on February 8, 2020, when Garcia was handed a poorly secured drink which quickly tipped over, causing third-degree burns to his groin area. The legal team representing Garcia argued that the lapse in ensuring the drink’s stability indicated a neglect of safety protocols by Starbucks employees. Despite being handed a drink carrier, the tea spilled within just over a second, leading … Read more

$50 Million Verdict for Delivery Driver Burned by Starbucks Tea in Drive-Through Accident

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Los Angeles, CA — A California jury awarded $50 million to a delivery driver who sustained severe burns from a Starbucks beverage. The incident, which resulted in permanent and considerable physical and psychological damage, took place at a drive-through in Los Angeles County on February 8, 2020. Michael Garcia, the driver, was collecting a venti-sized “Medicine Ball” tea, a popular off-menu item known for its meld of lemonade, green tea, peach tea, and honey, purported to alleviate symptoms of the common cold. The hot beverage spilled onto Garcia, leading to his hospitalization and necessitating multiple … Read more