The usual Starbucks coffee pickup in Los Angeles became a disastrous event that triggered a corporate-shaking lawsuit within this popular Southern California metropolis.
When a delivery driver stopped their vehicle at the Starbucks drive-thru everything changed because a horrific incident occurred which led to legal action that challenged customer security.
Michael Garcia operated as a Postmates driver in South Los Angeles while following his routine stops on February 8, 2020, when he stopped at the Starbucks drive-thru.
Like many customers, he ordered multiple drinks—three venti-sized “Medicine Ball” teas, known for their piping-hot temperature and soothing effects.
The Starbucks employee supplied a tray filled with the three beverages to Garcia when he reached to receive his order.
Garcia received the food tray without noticing that a cup was loose on its placement.
Within seconds, disaster struck.
His lap suffered second-degree burns when boiling tea from the spilled drink hit him which brought him to intense pain and screaming.
Garcia became able to maneuver away from the drive-thru lane after struggling with control but the harm was already inflicted upon him.
The burns of the third degree reached past his inner thighs to encompass his groin area and genital region causing an instant medical crisis which needed immediate medical care.
Multiple skin grafts along with hospitalization became necessary because of the severe burn injuries.
The physical agony which Garcia experienced resulted in long-lasting emotional and mental damage and PTSD as established through court records.
Working became impossible for him because of the incident which created additional financial difficulties in his life.
With the goal of making Starbucks responsible for his injuries Garcia filed a lawsuit that blamed the coffee giant for his condition.
The legal evidence showed how Starbucks did not properly protect the drink through drive-thru surveillance which recorded the actual accident.
When expressing sympathy toward Garcia for his injuries Starbucks refused to take responsibility because they maintained proper procedures for handling hot beverages.
The company offered to pay Garcia $3 million directly before raising the amount to $30 million as part of their unsuccessful attempt to resolve the case through settlement.
Garcia rejected any settlement from Starbucks unless they published a public apology while also establishing improved hot drink safety practices and secure drink handling procedures.
The court trial began because the company chose to reject these settlement demands which led the jury to take an extensive review of evidence.
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When the jury finished their deliberations they issued a decision that placed everyone present in disbelief.
In a coffee spill case Michael Garcia became one of the few recipients to obtain $50 million in settlement compensation establishing a record-breaking monetary compensation.
His attorney, Nick Rowley, called the ruling “a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for its disregard for customer safety.”
The company filed an appeal because they believe the sum warranting compensation exceeds appropriate standards and that they should not be at fault for the occurrence.
The court case analogously resembles the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit from 1994 which rekindled discussions about corporate safety standards and legal obligations to consumers.
The judicial ruling brings a feeling of finality since Garcia fought a prolonged and difficult struggle to pursue justice for his life-threatening event.
This ongoing legal battle confirms that organizations across the world must understand safety compromises produce expensive effects.
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