A California jury has ruled that Starbucks must pay $50 million in damages to delivery driver Michael Garcia after a hot beverage spill resulted in severe injuries. Garcia, while picking up his order at a Los Angeles drive-through, was injured when a drink, not properly secured in its container, spilled onto him. The resulting injuries included significant burns, disfigurement, and nerve damage, particularly affecting his groin area.

According to Garcia’s legal team, the incident occurred because the lid on one of the hot drinks was not fully engaged when handed over at the drive-through, causing the drink to spill. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court back in 2020, argued that Starbucks failed to meet its duty of care by not ensuring the lid was properly secured. The damages awarded cover a range of compensations for physical pain, emotional distress, loss of life enjoyment, and other related harms.

Starbucks, however, has stated its intention to appeal the decision. The company maintains that it upholds strict safety standards in the handling of hot beverages and disagrees with the jury’s determination of fault. This case has drawn comparisons to the notorious 1994 incident involving McDonald’s, where a similar hot coffee spill led to a highly publicized legal battle over the extent of the damages awarded.