A California man is set to receive quite the hefty payout years after he was severely burned at a Starbucks drive-thru. The Associated Press reports that a Los Angeles County jury has found that delivery driver Michael Garcia should be awarded $50 million as a result of his injuries.
During the incident, which took place on February 8, 2020, Garcia was picking up an order from the California Starbucks drive-thru when a venti-sized tea drink he was handed spilled onto his lap. The spill occurred immediately after he was given the scalding-hot drink from a worker at the coffee shop. The lawsuit states that Starbucks is to blame given that the tea wasn't secured properly in the takeout tray it was wedged in.
Following the spill, Garcia underwent skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals. His lawyers noted that he suffered permanent and life-changing disfigurement as a result of the accident.
Nick Rowley, one of Garcia's attorneys, had stern words for Starbucks following the jury's verdict.
“This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility,” Rowley said in a statement, the AP reports.
Starbucks, who emphasized that it remains “committed to the highest safety standards,” plans to appeal the court's decision.
“We disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive,” the coffee behemoth revealed in a statement.
