Starbucks has been ordered to pay $50 million in damages to a California man who suffered “life-changing” injuries when a scalding hot tea spilled onto his lap.
Michael Garcia, a delivery driver, sustained severe burns that led to permanent disfigurement and nerve damage, requiring skin grafts and multiple medical procedures following the incident on February 8, 2020.
How the Incident Happened
Court documents revealed that Garcia was waiting in the drive-thru when the Starbucks employee placed his hot tea into a takeout tray. However, the cup was not wedged securely, causing it to tip over immediately when Garcia tried to retrieve it.
Surveillance footage captured the moment Garcia received the drink. He suffered severe burns to his crotch area, resulting in permanent injuries that required extensive medical treatment.
Trial images reveal the severity of Garcia’s injuries, which legal filings describe as “disfiguring and life-altering.”
A Los Angeles County jury ruled in Garcia’s favor, determining that the Starbucks employee failed to properly secure the venti-sized hot tea in the takeout tray before handing it to him.
“Permanent and Life-Changing” Injuries
Garcia’s attorneys called the injuries devastating.
“Holding Starbucks Accountable”
“This jury verdict is a crucial step in holding Starbucks accountable for its blatant disregard for customer safety and failure to take responsibility,” Garcia’s attorney, Nick Rowley, said in a statement, per The New York Post.
The case draws parallels to the infamous 1990s lawsuit against McDonald’s, where Stella Liebeck, a New Mexico woman, was initially awarded nearly $3 million after suffering third-degree burns from spilled coffee. A judge later reduced her award to $480,000 in punitive damages and $160,000 in compensatory damages.
More recently, in July 2023, a Florida jury awarded $800,000 to the family of a four-year-old girl who suffered second-degree burns after a McDonald’s Chicken McNugget fell on her lap.
Starbucks Calls $50M Award “Excessive”
Starbucks has pushed back against the ruling, stating its intention to appeal.
“We disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive,” a Starbucks spokesperson said. “We remain committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the proper handling of hot beverages.”
How the McDonald’s Lawsuit Paved the Way
In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck suffered third-degree burns on 16% of her body after spilling a McDonald’s coffee in her lap.
Served at a scorching 180–190°F, the coffee caused severe injuries that required skin grafts and two years of medical treatment. Despite receiving over 700 complaints about burns, McDonald’s had made no changes before the lawsuit.
Liebeck sued, and a jury awarded her $200,000 in compensatory damages (later reduced to $160,000) and $2.7 million in punitive damages, equivalent to two days of McDonald’s coffee sales. A judge later reduced the total to $640,000, and the case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
The lawsuit became a symbol of tort reform debates, though legal experts argue it highlighted real safety concerns.
For now, Starbucks may be looking at a long appeals process, but Garcia and his legal team say the verdict sends a strong message about the responsibility of businesses to protect consumers from preventable injuries.
