American man suffers severe burns from hot Starbucks tea, wins 45 billion euros in damages

A truck driver who needed a skin transplant after being burned when a hot Starbucks cup of tea spilled on his lap has been awarded $50 million (over 45 billion euros).

Michael Garcia suffered third-degree burns to his genitals, groin and inner thighs after taking the drink on a trip to California, according to his legal team.

His negligence lawsuit blamed Starbucks for the injuries, alleging that an employee did not push hot tea firmly enough into a takeout tray.

It is learned that a Los Angeles County district court found in Garcia's favor after he initiated legal action over the incident on February 8, 2020.

He was working as a delivery driver for Postmates at the time, he writes. sky news, the Telegraph reports.

His lawyer Nick Rowley said his client's "life has changed forever."

"This court verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for its flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility," he added.

While Starbucks said it plans to file an appeal.

In a statement, the global coffee chain said: "We disagree with the jury's verdict that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded are excessive."

The company added that it was "committed to the highest safety standards" in handling hot drinks.

Otherwise, restaurants in the US have faced lawsuits before for customer burns.

In a famous case from the 1990s, a New Mexico court awarded a woman nearly $3 million in damages for burns she suffered while trying to remove the lid from a coffee cup at a McDonald's. /Telegraph/