A Los Angeles delivery driver won a lawsuit against Starbucks after his order spill at one of the company’s California locations left him seriously burned. A Los Angeles County jury ruled in his favor on Friday and ordered Starbucks to pay a maximum of $50 million to Michael Garcia.
Garcia confirmed that he sustained third-degree burns that caused serious injuries to his genitals. His attorney, Nick Rowley, said that his client now suffered pain during intimacy. Starbucks said that it sympathized with Garcia but planned to appeal the jury’s decision.
$50 Million Starbucks Lawsuit
A delivery driver was provided a maximum of $50 million in a lawsuit after being seriously burned when a Starbucks drink spilled in his lap at a California drive-through, according to the court records. It happened at an Exposition Park drive-thru window, where Postmates driver Michael Garcia was awaiting an order on February 8, 2020.
When the barista handed him a tray full of drinks, one of them overturned. His noticeable reaction can be viewed in security camera footage from the inside location at 1789 West Jefferson Boulevard.
This incident left Garcia with life-changing injuries such as third-degree burns, nerve damage as well as permanent injury to his genitals. Starbucks said that, if our hands are off the drink, then we are not responsible for what happens.
Garcia’s trial attorney Nicholas Rowley, replied that, So, if I’m Starbucks and I hand over you a drink that doesn’t have a lid that’s secured and it’s a scalding hot even at 180-degree drink, or if I provide you a drink that is in a container and it’s loose and suddenly, it falls right on you. At that moment I will take my hands off of it, then you’re responsible and I, the corporation, am not?”
What actually happened?
On 8 February 2020, Garcia was picking up three Venti-sized drinks from Starbucks when a barista placed one of them in the to-go carrier without the lid fully secured on the cup. When she handed the bearer to Garcia, the lid came off of that cup and then spilled all over his lap within a few seconds.
Trial Lawyers for Justice provided constant observation footage that clearly displays evidence of this accident. According to his attorney, he has suffered permanent and life-changing defacement.
Garcia experienced third-degree burns and had to get two skin grafts on his penis, which was permanently discolored as well as distorted after the incident.
Incident’s effect on Garcia’s life
Trial Lawyers for Justice co-founder Nick Rowley stated that Garcia is not able to do sex without pain. Rowley said that one of the most gratifying experiences of Garcia’s life has been changed to pain. He is no longer the same person. This injury will affect each facet of his life.
Rowley and Garcia both blame the incident on Starbucks, because the barista did not properly fix the lid prior to handing the drinks to Garcia. On Friday, March 14, 2025, a Los Angeles County jury considered for only 40 minutes before siding with Garcia and commanding Starbucks to award him at least $50 million.
Garcia’s response on settlement amount
Garcia said he can take the settlement offered under three conditions: that Starbucks apologize, that they change their store policy, and that they issue a memo to customers to double-check hot drinks before handing them off and all the things they should have done anyway. Starbucks refused these conditions, that’s why the case went to trial.
Now, Starbucks has been ordered to pay $50 million to Garcia. Rowley said that, No amount of money can undo the permanent catastrophic pain or damage that Garcia has experienced. But the jury order is a very important step in holding Starbucks accountable for blatant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility for this type of incident.