A Los Angeles County jury recently handed down a $50 million verdict against Starbucks, holding the coffee giant fully responsible for severe and permanent burn injuries suffered by a delivery driver. The case drew national attention, evoking comparisons to the infamous McDonald’s hot coffee case.
In 2020, Michael Garcia was working as a delivery driver when he stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru in South Los Angeles to pick up three “Medicine Ball” drinks. The beverages were placed in a cardboard drink carrier by Starbucks employees—but one of the cups was not properly secured, as later confirmed by surveillance footage shown to the jury.
Moments after Garcia placed the drinks in his car, the unsecured cup tipped over, spilling scalding tea onto his lap. The liquid soaked through his clothing, causing catastrophic third-degree burns to his groin and genitals. Garcia required emergency treatment at the Grossman Burn Center, including two skin graft surgeries. The injuries left him permanently disfigured, with significant loss of genital function, nerve damage, and chronic pain during sexual activity.
“It’s an awful, awful injury,” said one of Garcia’s attorneys. “One of the most pleasurable experiences in life has been turned into pain. He’s a different person now—this affects every part of his life.”
Despite clear video evidence showing Starbucks’ failure to properly secure the drinks, the company pursued an aggressive defense, attempting to place blame on Garcia. Starbucks argued that Garcia mishandled the drink carrier, placed it in a precarious position in his car, and even suggested—without evidence—that his dog might have contributed to the spill.
However, the jury was unconvinced. They found Garcia acted as any reasonable customer would and concluded that Starbucks was 100% at fault. The surveillance video made the company’s negligence undeniable.
The jury’s swift decision sent a strong message. After just a week-long liability trial, it took only 40 minutes to find Starbucks fully liable. In the damages phase, the jury deliberated for just over two hours before awarding Garcia $50 million—one of the largest personal injury verdicts against a major corporation in recent years. Under California law, juries can apportion blame between parties, but in this case, they assigned no fault to Garcia.
Starbucks continues to deny full responsibility, publicly calling the verdict “excessive” and indicating plans to appeal. A company spokesperson stated, “We sympathize with Mr. Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision and believe the damages awarded to be excessive.”
Behind the scenes, however, Starbucks offered substantial settlement amounts—offers that Garcia ultimately rejected. These included:
Garcia was not seeking a payout—he was seeking full accountability. And the jury agreed.
This case underscores a simple truth: when a corporation fails to follow basic safety practices and causes life-altering harm, it should be held accountable. The jury’s verdict serves as a powerful reminder that companies have a duty to protect their customers—and when they fail, the consequences are theirs to bear.
At Avian Law Group, we represent individuals who have been injured due to the careless and reckless actions of others. Your case can only be resolved once, which is why it’s crucial to have all the facts before making any decisions.
We focus on serious injuries that demand experienced, aggressive representation. With over 60 years of combined experience exclusively representing injury victims, Avian Law Group is committed to fighting for the justice you deserve.