Starbucks ordered to pay $50 million to delivery driver burned by hot coffee

[Allan]

This award will no doubt be reduced on appeal.

Ouch!

New YorkCNN —
A jury in California on Friday ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to a delivery driver who was severely burned by an improperly secured lid on hot beverages.

Michael Garcia was picking up drinks at a drive-through in Los Angeles when he “suffered severe burns, disfigurement, and debilitating nerve damage to his genitals when hot drinks ultimately spilled” onto his lap, according to the lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in 2020. The lawsuit accused Starbucks of breaching its duty of care by failing to secure the lid.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/14/business/starbucks-hot-coffee-driver-verdict/index.html

 

[MamboDervish]

This award will no doubt be reduced on appeal.

Ouch!

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/14/business/starbucks-hot-coffee-driver-verdict/index.html

California - a strangely litigious state. It seems to me that the only one responsible for the burns is the one who spilled the coffees. Why was the delivery driver riding with them in his lap? It would be fun to be the defense attorney on this case.

 

[dmpi]

Starbucks got deeper pockets than MacDonald's?

 

[Allan]

Why was the delivery driver riding with them in his lap?

No this happened during the hand-off, probably at the drive thru.

 

[Allan]

Starbucks got deeper pockets than MacDonald's?

US juries aren't much fussed about a company's ability to pay.

 

[Cosmo]

$50 million? Did John Holmes burn his dick off with this coffee?

 

[Lursa]

California - a strangely litigious state. It seems to me that the only one responsible for the burns is the one who spilled the coffees. Why was the delivery driver riding with them in his lap? It would be fun to be the defense attorney on this case.

He wasnt. It's in the article, what happened.

 

[btthegreat]

Here we go again https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_Restaurants. Cue a lot of people who do not know either the facts of the case, or the arguments , or understand the actual damages involved or the legal theory behind punitive damages, or the judicial process post jury verdict, to pass amateur hour opinions on the state of tort law all across the country.

That one verdict absolutely saved a hell of a lot of consumers from a hell of a lot of third degree burns.

 

[DrewPaul]

This award will no doubt be reduced on appeal.

Ouch!

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/14/business/starbucks-hot-coffee-driver-verdict/index.html

That award is in the stratosphere. They must have thought Trump was involved. Can they prove it was intentional? Yes it will be reduced to something in line with the pain and suffering.