Starbucks ordered to pay $50 million in burn injury case.
Share and Follow

A MAN has won $50 million after a scalding hot Starbucks drink spilled all over his lap and disfigured his penis.

Postmates driver Michael Garcia suffered severe burn injuries when the 180-degree, venti-sized Medicine Ball tea tipped over when a barista handed him a tray of drinks through the drive-thru in 2020.

Starbucks ordered to pay $50 million in burn injury case.

Footage from inside the Starbucks drive-thru shows a barista handing Garcia the three scalding hot drinks on February 8, 2020Credit: NBC Los Angeles
Screenshot of a Starbucks drive-thru window, with a news banner stating Starbucks was ordered to pay $50 million in a burn injury case.

The footage showed one of the drinks wasn’t properly secured in the trayCredit: NBC Los Angeles

A Los Angeles County jury found Starbucks fully liable for the spilled drinks after Garcia’s negligence lawsuit blamed his injuries on the coffee shop chain.

The lawsuit said the Starbucks employee didn’t push the hot tea firmly enough onto the takeout tray, causing it to tip over.

Garcia sued the chain after he suffered third-degree burns to his penis, groin, and inner thighs in the accident.

Video footage from inside the drive-thru shows the intense moment Garcia was handed the drinks in February 2020.

Seconds after he takes them, one of the large teas tips over and dumps all over Garcia, leaving him screaming in agony.

The barista at the drive-thru in Jefferson Park, Los Angeles, looked shocked as Garcia drove away in pain.

Garcia’s lawyers argued the video showed one of the drinks was loosely placed in the tray when it was handed to him.

The iconic coffee shop chain requires workers to fully secure hot drinks in their trays before handing them to customers, according to their policies.

“Despite being repeatedly warned about the dangers of improperly secured drinks, [Starbucks] chose to ignore safety,” said one of Garcia’s attorneys, Nick Rowley, according to NBC affiliate KNBC.

Garcia suffers severe PTSD from the incident, according to evidence submitted during the trial.

I tried the new Starbucks fall flavor – I hate coffee but this drink made me change my mind

The trial also revealed the incident left Garcia with permanent disfigurement and discoloration on his penis.

He had to undergo skin grafts and undergo other procedures on his genitals, but still reportedly has less length and girth and struggles to maintain an erection.

“Michael Garcia’s life has been forever changed,” Rowley said.

“No amount of money can undo the permanent catastrophic harm he has suffered.”

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.”

Starbucks

Starbucks initially made a $3 million pre-trial offer and then later offered Garcia $30 million to settle the case.

Garcia said yes, but only if Starbucks apologized and changed its policies.

He also asked that Starbucks issue a memo to all of their employees to double-check hot drinks before giving them to customers.

Starbucks declined the terms – and now has to pay even more.

The company still insists they weren’t to blame.

“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,” Starbucks said in a statement.

“We plan to appeal. We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks.”

Starbucks hasn’t returned The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.

Another California man sued Starbucks for a similar incident in 2020.

Tommy Piluyev suffered lasting damage to his hands, genitals, stomach, and thighs after Starbucks’ burning hot tea spilled on him in 2018.

The 22-year-old also sued the manufacturing company that made the chain’s cups and lids.

Exterior view of a Starbucks coffee shop.

Starbucks plans to appeal Garcia’s award (stock image)Credit: Getty
Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Moment roads become rivers as floodwaters sweep away cars in Spain – trapping the masses as ALL trains to and from country’s biggest cities are cancelled

Roads have become rivers as floodwaters sweep away cars in Spain, trapping…

Breaking News: Discover the Identities of the 20 Hostages Freed by Hamas

In a significant development on Monday, Hamas returned all 20 living Israeli…

Unbelievable: Antony Blinken Gives Biden Credit for Gaza Deal, and It Gets Worse From There

When I wrote on Saturday that the foreign policy establishment is in…

Vance blames CDC layoff ‘chaos’ on Schumer, Democrats

Vice President Vance blamed the rescinded layoffs at the Centers for Disease…

Swimmer Rebukes Abigail Spanberger for Not Protecting Girls’ Sports

A former Roanoke College women’s swimmer is lambasting Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat…

Mike Johnson is a great cheerleader for Trump, but a horrible Speaker 

Just over 21 years ago, Barack Obama, then an Illinois state senator,…

Chinese Economic Coercion, Rare Earth Minerals, and Tariffs: Decouple Now or Never

On Friday, President Trump made two posts on Truth Social in response…

Johnson says he had 'thoughtful' talk with Greene amid her criticism of health care costs

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Sunday that he and Rep. Marjorie…