Starbucks Ordered to Pay $50 Million in Hot Drink Injury Case

A California jury found Starbucks liable for a 2020 incident where a delivery driver suffered severe burns from a spilled hot tea.

Michael Garcia, a delivery driver, suffered third-degree burns and permanent injuries after a hot tea spilled on his lap at a Starbucks drive-thru in Los Angeles in February 2020.
The jury awarded Garcia $50 million in damages, citing Starbucks' failure to secure the drink lid properly as a critical factor in the incident.
Garcia underwent multiple skin grafts and surgeries due to the injuries, which his lawyers described as life-altering and permanently disfiguring.
Starbucks expressed sympathy for Garcia but announced plans to appeal the decision, arguing the damages awarded were excessive and disputing liability.
This case echoes other high-profile lawsuits involving hot beverage injuries, including a 1990s McDonald's case where a customer received a reduced settlement for coffee burns.