A court in California has ordered multinational coffee chain Starbucks to pay $50 million in compensation after a delivery worker suffered severe burns from a hot beverage spill.
The verdict states that Starbucks must compensate Michael Garcia, a delivery worker in Los Angeles, who was seriously injured while picking up an order from a Starbucks drive-thru.
The incident occurred on February 8, 2020, when Garcia was collecting an order from Starbucks. Court documents reveal that the automatic coffee machine failed to properly secure the lid on a hot beverage, leading to the accident. As a result, Garcia suffered third-degree burns, nerve damage, and other serious injuries.
Garcia’s attorney, Michael Parker, stated that he received a parcel containing three beverages, one of which had an improperly sealed lid. The beverage spilled on his body, causing severe burns.
“This was a physically and mentally traumatic experience for Garcia, significantly impacting his quality of life,” Parker said.
The jury ruled in Garcia’s favor, considering his physical pain, mental suffering, and long-term disability, and awarded substantial compensation.
However, Starbucks has expressed disagreement with the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision in a higher court. A company spokesperson stated, “We sympathize with Garcia, but we believe it is unfair to hold us fully responsible, and the compensation amount seems excessive.”