Starbucks faces $50M verdict in coffee burn case, plans appeal
Starbucks must pay $50 million to a California customer who suffered burns after spilling a hot beverage. The man claims the incident occurred due to employee negligence. The coffee chain disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal.
What do you need to know?
- Michael Garcia suffered severe burns after a hot beverage spilled on him at a Starbucks drive-through in California.
- A Los Angeles court awarded him $50 million in damages, determining that Starbucks did not ensure customer safety.
- Starbucks plans to appeal the verdict, claiming that the damages are too high.
Serious consequences
Starbucks has been ordered to pay $50 million in damages to a customer in California, who suffered burns after a hot beverage was spilled. Michael Garcia had to undergo skin grafts and other procedures after the hot beverage spilled on his genitals.
The incident occurred on February 8, 2020, when Garcia was picking up his order at the drive-through window. His lawyers successfully argued that the barista improperly placed one of the cups on the take-out cup holder, leading to the hot liquid spilling and causing severe burns.
Huge compensation
The Los Angeles court determined that Starbucks failed to fulfill its duty to ensure customer safety and awarded Garcia $50 million in damages. The injured customer's attorney emphasized that this verdict is an important step in holding Starbucks accountable for negligence.
Three experts believed that the compensation should be $125 million. Starbucks, on the other hand, claims that Garcia is also responsible for the accident because he did not exercise due caution.
Starbucks disagrees with the court's decision and plans to appeal. The company believes that the compensation is excessive and emphasizes its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards in handling hot beverages. Starbucks had previously offered $3 million, and later $30 million in a settlement, but Garcia rejected these offers.
