Starbucks Ordered to Pay $50 Million After Customer Suffers Severe Burns from Hot Tea

A Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of a delivery driver who sustained life-altering injuries from a spilled drink in 2020, while Starbucks plans to appeal the decision.

• The incident occurred in February 2020 when a delivery driver ordered a hot tea at a Starbucks drive-through in California, which spilled into his lap causing severe burns.
• The victim, Michael Garcia, underwent multiple skin grafts and surgeries on his genital area due to the injuries, which his lawyers described as permanently life-altering.
• The jury found Starbucks negligent, citing that an employee failed to secure the tea properly in a serving tray, leading to the spill.
• Starbucks expressed sympathy for Garcia but stated disagreement with the jury's decision, labeling the $50 million damages as excessive and confirming plans to appeal.
• This case echoes past high-profile lawsuits over hot beverage burns in the U.S., highlighting ongoing concerns about customer safety in the food and beverage industry.

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