California Jury Orders Starbucks to Pay $50 Million in Hot Beverage Burn Case

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A California jury has ruled that Starbucks must pay $50 million in damages to a delivery driver who suffered severe burns due to an improperly secured lid on a hot beverage.

The incident occurred at a Starbucks drive-through in Los Angeles, where the driver, Michael Garcia, was picking up multiple drinks. According to the lawsuit, one of the hot beverages was not properly placed in the container, causing it to spill onto Garcia’s lap when the order was handed to him. He sustained severe burns and nerve damage as a result.

The lawsuit argued that Starbucks failed to uphold safety standards by not securing the lid, leading to the injury. The damages covered a range of physical and emotional suffering, including disfigurement, mental distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

In response to the verdict, Starbucks stated that it plans to appeal, expressing disagreement with the jury’s decision and calling the damages excessive. The company emphasized its commitment to safety in handling hot beverages.

The case has drawn comparisons to the well-known 1994 lawsuit against McDonald’s, in which a customer suffered third-degree burns from spilled coffee and was initially awarded nearly $3 million.