A California delivery driver has been granted $50 million in damages after a jury found Starbucks negligent in handling a dangerously hot tea. Michael Garcia filed a lawsuit against the coffee chain following an incident where a tea spilled onto his lap at a drive-thru, resulting in permanent disfigurement. His lawyer, Nick Rowley, stated that the accident has irreversibly altered Garcia's life.
Rowley emphasized that while no financial compensation can reverse the severe harm Garcia endured, the jury's decision is crucial in holding Starbucks accountable for neglecting customer safety. Starbucks, however, plans to challenge the verdict, maintaining that they adhere to high safety standards and disagreeing with the jury's conclusion and the amount awarded.
The incident occurred on February 8, 2020, when Garcia, working as a Postmates delivery driver, went to a Los Angeles Starbucks to collect three "medicine ball" teas. As he received the drinks in a cardboard carrier at the drive-thru, one cup fell, causing the lid to come off and the hot tea to spill onto him. Video evidence presented by Garcia's legal team showed the preparation of the drinks and the spill. They argued that the employee did not secure the drink properly in the carrier.
Garcia sustained third-degree burns to his groin area and required two skin grafts. Any friction in the affected area continues to cause him pain.
This case draws parallels to the well-known McDonald’s coffee lawsuit from 1992, where Stella Liebeck suffered severe burns after a coffee spill. Her case highlighted that McDonald's coffee was served at higher temperatures than other establishments, with over 700 similar incidents reported before any policy changes were made. Liebeck initially sought to have her medical expenses covered, but pursued legal action after McDonald's declined. She was awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages, which was later reduced, and eventually settled for an undisclosed sum.