Starbucks Ordered to Pay $50 Million After Delivery Driver Suffers Severe Burns

Michael Garcia was awarded damages after a jury found Starbucks negligent in a 2020 drive-thru incident involving a hot tea spill.

Michael Garcia, a Postmates delivery driver, suffered third-degree burns and permanent disfigurement after a hot tea spilled on his lap at a Los Angeles Starbucks drive-thru in 2020.
The jury determined that a Starbucks barista failed to properly secure the lid on one of three venti-sized teas in a drink carrier, leading to the spill within seconds of the handoff.
Garcia underwent multiple skin grafts and continues to experience lasting physical pain, sexual dysfunction, and psychological trauma as a result of the injuries.
Starbucks plans to appeal the $50 million verdict, arguing that the damages are excessive and that the company was not at fault for the incident.
The case drew comparisons to other high-profile lawsuits involving burns from hot beverages, including the 1994 McDonald's coffee case, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the food service industry.