Starbucks Pays Man $50 Million After Hot Drink Disfigures Genitals

Who doesn't love a hot cup of coffee? It can be perfect for waking us up in the morning or warming us up on a cold day, but a drink that's too hot can ruin your whole day or your week.

We all know the feeling when your tongue touches that first sip of hot coffee or tea, and it makes your mouth feel raw. Typically, we can simply just wait for the drink to cool down before taking another sip, but imagine that drink spills on you. Now imagine you're in your car and the hot drink spills in your lap.

While we can imagine it, a delivery driver in California lived it.

What Happened?

California delivery driver, Michael Garcia was picking up a Postmates order from Starbucks on February 8, 2020. The order included three venti "medicine ball" teas.

While picking up the order at the Starbucks drive thru, Michael Garcia was handed the drinks in a cardboard carrier.

After grabbing the order, a cup fell, the lid popped off, and scalding hot tea was spilled into his lap. As a result, Garcia suffered third-degree burns to his groin and inner thighs, and permanent disfigurement to his penis.

Garcia's attorney, Nick Rowley stated in a press release that his "life has been changed forever" by the incident.

Adding, "No amount of money can undo the permanent catastrophic harm he has suffered, but this jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility."

Video evidence shows a Starbucks employee making the drinks and handing them to Garcia. It then shows the drink spilling in his lap as his car drives away. His attorney argued in court that the employee didn't secure the lid on the cup properly.

Garcia had two skin grafts to his penis at Grossman Burn Center.

"After a hospitalization and multiple skin grafts, Michael has lived for five years with the disfigurement, pain, dysfunction and psychological harm caused by the burns," said a statement from Garcia's attorney.

Michael Garcia has been awarded $50 million in the negligence Starbucks lawsuit.

A History of Customer Burns

This accident is reminiscent of several other accidents where customers have been burned at different restaurants.

Possibly the most infamous is 79-year old, Stella Liebeck, burned by McDonald's coffee in New Mexico the 1990's. While trying to pour cream and suagr in her coffee in the passenger seat, the coffee spilled in her lap, burning her thighs, buttocks, and groin.

While Liebeck old asked the fast food chain to cover her medical bills of $20,000, they only offered her $800. Her lawyers soon found out McDonald's coffee was made about 50 degrees hotter than other chains, and she was awarded much more. She was utlimately awarded a sum of almost $3 million, which would equal about $7 million today.

Earlier this year, 19- year old, Genesis Monita suffered second degree burns from barbecue sauce from Bill Miller B-B-Q. She was awarded $2.8 million.

Starbucks Response

While Starbucks has stated its sympathy for Michael Garcia, they plan to appeal.

"We sympathize with Mr. Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive," stated Jaci Anderson, Starbucks' Director of Corporate Communications.