By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-15 18:41:27 | Updated at 2025-03-16 02:17:59
7 hours ago
A delivery driver has won US$50 million in a lawsuit after being seriously burned when a Starbucks drink spilled in his lap at a California drive-through, court records show.
A Los Angeles County jury found Friday for Michael Garcia, who underwent skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals after a venti-sized tea drink spilled instants after he collected it on February 8, 2020.
He has suffered permanent and life-changing disfigurement, according to his lawyers.
Garcia’s negligence lawsuit blamed his injuries on Starbucks, saying that an employee did not wedge the scalding-hot tea firmly enough into a takeaway tray.
“This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility,” one of Garcia’s lawyers, Nick Rowley, said in a statement.
Starbucks said it sympathised with Garcia but planned to appeal.
