Wins $50 million lawsuit after having hot tea spilled on him

On February 8, 2020, delivery man Michael Garcia went to the Starbucks drive-thru in Jefferson Park, Los Angeles, California to buy three cups of water. After the Starbucks employee handed him the tray of drinks, a large cup of tea spilled on Garcia’s thigh, causing severe burns, leading him to file a lawsuit against the coffee company.

A Los Angeles jury on March 14 ruled in favor of Michael Garcia, ordering Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages. Garcia has undergone skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals, leaving him with “life-altering permanent disfigurement,” according to his attorney.

In the lawsuit, Garcia blamed Starbucks for his injuries, saying store employees failed to secure the hot tea cup tightly enough to the takeout tray, causing it to fall.

"The jury's verdict is an important step in holding Starbucks accountable for its disregard for customer safety and failure to take responsibility," said Nick Rowley, one of Garcia's attorneys.

Starbucks said it sympathizes with Garcia but plans to appeal.

"We disagree with the jury's finding that we were liable in this incident and that the award is excessive," the Seattle-based coffee giant said in a statement, adding that it "remains committed to the highest safety standards" when handling hot beverages.

Many American restaurants have faced lawsuits over customer burns. In a famous case in the 1990s, a jury in New Mexico ordered McDonald's to pay nearly $3 million to a woman who suffered burns while trying to open a coffee cup at one of its stores.

The judge later reduced the award and the case was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount, but less than $600,000.