Man wins $50 million hot tea lawsuit against Starbucks

A Los Angeles jury has awarded USD 50 million in damages to Michael Garcia, a Postmates driver who suffered severe burns after a scalding hot tea spilled into his lap at a Starbucks drive-thru in 2020.

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The incident occurred on Feb. 8, 2020, at an Exposition Park Starbucks at 1789 West Jefferson Boulevard. According to court records, Garcia had ordered three venti-sized "medicine ball" teas and was picking them up when a barista allegedly failed to properly secure one of the drinks in the tray. The cup toppled over within seconds of receiving the order, causing the lid to detach and spill the steaming liquid onto Garcia.

Security footage from inside the store captured his immediate reaction, and the lawsuit argued that Starbucks was negligent in handling the hot beverages. Garcia sustained third-degree burns, nerve damage, and permanent injuries, including severe trauma to his genitals. He has undergone multiple surgeries and continues to experience daily pain and PTSD, according to his attorneys.

"Starbucks says if our hands are off the drink, then no matter what happens, we're not responsible," Garcia’s attorney, Nicholas Rowley, stated during the trial. "So, if I'm Starbucks and I hand you a drink that doesn't have a lid that's secured, and it's a scalding hot, 180-degree drink... the moment that I take my hands off of it, then you're responsible and I, the corporation, am not."

After deliberating for just 40 minutes, jurors sided with Garcia, determining that Starbucks should be held accountable for what they deemed "gross negligence." Rowley emphasized that while no financial compensation could undo the damage, the verdict was an important step in ensuring corporate accountability.

"Michael Garcia's life has been forever changed," Rowley said following the ruling. "No amount of money can undo the permanent catastrophic harm he has suffered, but this jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility."

Starbucks responded to the verdict with a statement expressing disagreement with the jury’s decision.

"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," a Starbucks spokesperson told CBS News. "We plan to appeal. We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks."

Garcia began receiving treatment at the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles six days after the incident. He underwent skin grafts that left him with permanent nerve damage, and trial evidence highlighted the long-term medical implications of his injuries.

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Before the trial, Starbucks had initially offered Garcia USD 3 million to settle the case, later increasing the amount to USD 30 million. However, Garcia insisted that the company also issue an apology, change its policies, and mandate that all Starbucks locations double-check hot drinks before handing them to customers. When Starbucks declined to meet those conditions, the case proceeded to trial, culminating in the jury's USD 50 million verdict.

This is not the first time Starbucks has faced legal action over spilled hot beverages. In 2018, a Northern California man spent 11 days in a burn unit after suffering life-changing injuries from a similar incident at a drive-thru. A year earlier, a woman in Denver had sued the coffee chain after a spill resulted in severe injuries and the death of her dog.