$50 Million Award Against Starbucks for Drive-Through Burn Incident

A California drive-through incident has resulted in Starbucks being ordered to pay a whopping $50 million after a customer’s unfortunate encounter with a scorching hot beverage. Michael Garcia endured severe burns, necessitating skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals, following a mishap on February 8, 2020. The accident occurred at a drive-through where he was given a tray holding venti-sized drinks. His legal team successfully demonstrated that a barista had inadequately secured one of the drinks in the tray. As Garcia took hold of it, the hot drink inadvertently spilled, inflicting significant burns. His lawyer emphasized the permanent and transformative impact the burns had on his life. The lawsuit claimed that Starbucks had neglected its duty of care, and a jury in Los Angeles County concurred, resulting in this significant award.

Nick Rowley, one of Garcia’s attorneys, expressed that the verdict serves as a crucial measure to hold Starbucks accountable for its apparent negligence towards customer safety. “This verdict is vital in compelling Starbucks to acknowledge its responsibility,” he stated in an address to The Associated Press. Notably, three jurors thought the compensation should have been even higher at $125 million, as reported by the Daily Journal. Starbucks, headquartered in Seattle, announced its intention to appeal the decision. The company’s defense had argued that Garcia himself was at fault for not acting with ordinary care, suggesting that his own negligence contributed to the incident, which took place at their 1789 West Jefferson Blvd. store.