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.
A Starbucks customer has successfully sued the company over hot tea. Credit: Jeremy Moeller / Getty
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.
Security footage captured the moment unfold. Credit: Trial Lawyers for Justice
Images from the trial show the extent of the damage, with legal filings describing the injuries as “disfiguring and life-altering.”
A Los Angeles County jury ruled in Garcia’s favor, finding 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 described the injuries as devastating.
“This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility,” his attorney, Nick Rowley, said in a statement, per the New York Post.
The case echoes the infamous 1990s lawsuit against McDonald’s, where a New Mexico woman, Stella Liebeck, was initially awarded nearly $3 million after suffering third-degree burns from a spilled coffee. A judge later reduced that award to $480,000 in punitive damages and $160,000 in compensatory damages.
Similarly, 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 on the ruling and indicated that it plans to appeal the decision.
“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 have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks.”
How The McDonald’s Lawsuit Paved The Way
In 1992, Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, suffered third-degree burns on 16% of her body after spilling a McDonald’s coffee in her lap.
The coffee – served at 180–190°F – caused severe injuries requiring skin grafts and two years of medical treatment.
McDonald’s had received over 700 prior complaints but made no changes.
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.
Featured image credit: Jeremy Moeller / Getty
