A California jury has ruled that Starbucks must
pay $50 million (₹415 crore) in damages to a delivery driver who suffered
severe burns after a hot beverage spilled on him.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at a Los Angeles drive-through,
where Michael Garcia, the victim, was picking up an order.
According to a lawsuit filed in 2020, the hot drink’s lid was not
secured properly, causing it to spill onto Garcia’s lap, resulting
in:
- Severe
burns
- Disfigurement
- Debilitating
nerve damage to his genitals
Garcia’s attorney, Michael Parker, stated that his
client was handed three drinks, but one was not fully placed into the
carrier. As the barista handed over the order, the drink slipped,
leading to the accident.
The court awarded Garcia compensation for:
✅
Physical pain
✅
Mental distress
✅
Loss of enjoyment of life
✅
Humiliation and emotional suffering
Starbucks’ Response
Starbucks disagrees with the ruling and has announced
plans to challenge the decision.
Statement from Starbucks: “We sympathize with Mr.
Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this
incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive.”
Similar Cases in the Past
This case is being compared to the 1994 McDonald’s
lawsuit, where Stella Liebeck suffered third-degree burns
from a spilled hot coffee and was awarded nearly $3 million in
damages.
While Starbucks plans to appeal the verdict, this
ruling reinforces corporate accountability in handling hot beverages
safely.
.