California man awarded $50 million for Starbucks tea burns

Michael Garcia, a delivery driver, was awarded $50 million by a Los Angeles County jury after suffering severe burns from a spilled Starbucks tea in February 2020. Garcia's lawsuit claimed that a Starbucks employee failed to secure the hot drink properly in the takeout tray, leading to life-changing injuries that required skin grafts and resulted in permanent disfigurement. His attorney stated that the verdict is a significant step in holding Starbucks accountable for its disregard for customer safety. Starbucks expressed sympathy but disagreed with the jury's decision, calling the damages excessive and indicating plans to appeal. This case adds to a history of similar lawsuits in the food and beverage industry, where customer safety has been a contentious issue. As the appeal process begins, it may impact how companies manage the safety of hot beverages.