A California jury on Friday ruled that Starbucks must pay $50 million in damages to a delivery man who was severely burned when the lid of a hot drink cup was not properly secured. According to a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in 2020, Michael Garcia was picking up a drink at a drive-thru store in Los Angeles and "when the hot drink eventually spilled" onto his lap, his genital area "suffered severe burns, disfigurement, and nerve damage and reduced function."
The lawsuit alleges that Starbucks failed to exercise due care by failing to properly secure cup lids.
Garcia's lawyer, Michael Parker, said his client took three drinks, including one hot drink that was not completely put into the drink container. When the barista handed Garcia the order, a drink fell out of the container and spilled on Garcia, Parker said.
According to the ruling recorded by Courtroom View Network, Garcia suffered damages including physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, inconvenience, grief, disfigurement, impairment of bodily functions, anxiety and emotional distress.
Starbucks said it plans to appeal the ruling.
A spokesman for the company said in a statement: "We sympathize with Mr. Garcia, but we disagree with the jury's finding that we were responsible for this incident and believe the award is excessive. We are committed to adhering to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot beverages."
The lawsuit is reminiscent of a famous 1994 lawsuit against McDonald's in which a woman spilled hot coffee on her leg, causing third-degree burns. The plaintiff in that case, Stella Lieback, was initially awarded nearly $3 million.