California man wins $79 million in lawsuit over burns from Starbucks tea

An accident occurred at a Starbucks drive-thru in California, where a delivery driver suffered severe burns after a hot drink spilled on his leg while picking up an order. He ultimately won the lawsuit, receiving a compensation of up to $50 million (approximately AUD 79 million). The Los Angeles County jury ruled in favor of Michael Garcia, who sustained burns requiring skin grafts and other surgeries to his genital area when a Venti-sized tea spilled on him on February 8, 2020.

Garcia's lawyers stated that he suffered permanent and life-altering disfigurement as a result of the incident. Garcia's negligence lawsuit blamed Starbucks for the accident, claiming that an employee failed to securely fasten the scalding hot tea in the takeaway carrier. Nick Rowley, Garcia's lawyer, stated in a statement: "This jury verdict is a crucial step in holding Starbucks accountable for its blatant disregard for customer safety and its failure to take responsibility."

Starbucks expressed sympathy for Garcia's experience but plans to appeal the decision. The Seattle-based coffee giant stated in a statement: "We disagree with the jury's decision that we are responsible for the incident and believe that the damages awarded are excessive." Starbucks added that the company "is committed to adhering to the highest safety standards when handling hot beverages."

The U.S. restaurant industry has previously faced lawsuits filed by customers who were burned. In a famous case in the 1990s, a New Mexico jury awarded a woman nearly $3 million in damages after she was burned while trying to open the lid of a cup of coffee at a McDonald's drive-thru. The judge later reduced the damages, and the case was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount less than $600,000.

Juries sometimes side with restaurants, as in another case in the 1990s where a child spilled a cup of McDonald's coffee on himself in Iowa. In that instance, the restaurant ultimately prevailed.