In a significant legal development, a California jury awarded Michael Garcia, a Postmates delivery driver, $50 million in damages following injuries sustained from scalding hot tea at a Los Angeles Starbucks. The jury found the coffee giant negligent in its handling of the drinks, leading to severe injuries for Garcia. The incident occurred on February 8, 2020, when Garcia was collecting three venti "medicine ball" teas from the Starbucks location.
The mishandling of the drinks by Starbucks employees resulted in one of the cups falling directly into Garcia's lap. The lid came off, spilling scalding hot tea on his groin area. This led to third-degree burns on his penis, groin, and inner thighs. To address the injuries, Garcia underwent two skin grafts at the Grossman Burn Center. Despite medical intervention, any friction in the affected area continues to cause him pain.
Garcia's legal team argued that the Starbucks employee failed to properly secure the drink in the carrier, which directly led to the accident. Nick Rowley, Garcia's attorney, emphasized the lasting impact of the incident.
"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," Rowley stated.
Starbucks maintains its stance on adhering to high safety standards and plans to contest the court'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," the company stated.
The case draws parallels to the infamous McDonald's coffee lawsuit where hundreds were also burned before changes were made. In both instances, questions about corporate responsibility and customer safety have been central. While McDonald's was criticized for serving coffee between 180 and 190 degrees, Starbucks insists its tea is maintained at safe temperatures.