Starbucks Faces New Lawsuits Following Hot Drink Injuries and $79 Million Ruling
The coffee giant is confronted with two lawsuits in California regarding hot beverage incidents, shortly after a significant court ruling related to similar claims.
Starbucks is currently facing two new lawsuits related to incidents involving spilled hot beverages, coming on the heels of a recent court ruling in which the company was ordered to pay $50 million to a delivery driver who suffered severe burns from a spilled drink.
Both lawsuits have been filed in California, alleging negligence due to hot liquids spilling onto customers in drive-through locations.
The first lawsuit, lodged last week, involves plaintiff Sabrina Michelle Hermes, who claims she sustained serious injuries when hot liquid spilled onto her lap at a Starbucks outlet in Norwalk, near Los Angeles, two years ago.
According to court documents, Hermes alleges that one of the cups in her order was not properly secured when handed to her, resulting in the drink sloshing onto her legs, hip, knee, and feet.
The lawsuit asserts that Starbucks had a duty to exercise reasonable care in the preparation, handling, and service of hot beverages to prevent such injuries.
Hermes is seeking unspecified general and special damages, including compensation for past and future medical expenses and lost wages.
In a separate case in Alhambra Superior Court, Ernesto Vladimir Sanchez Avendano is pursuing unspecified damages for similar claims of negligence.
Avendano contends that he was handed a drink at a North Hollywood drive-through with a lid that was inadequately fastened, leading to a spill that caused severe burns and debilitating nerve damage.
A spokesperson for Starbucks announced that the company plans to contest both claims.
The representative emphasized the company's commitment to high safety standards in their stores regarding the handling of hot drinks and mentioned that they believe Hermes' claims are without merit.
The spokesperson also indicated that Starbucks had not yet received official notice of the lawsuit filed by Avendano but would review the claims thoroughly.
The recent wave of lawsuits comes on the back of a significant ruling in Los Angeles, where a jury mandated Starbucks to pay $50 million to Michael Garcia, a delivery driver who experienced burns when a super-sized drink spilled in his lap at a drive-through in February 2020. This case highlighted issues surrounding the handling of multiple drinks, as Garcia's lawyers asserted that an employee had failed to secure one of the drinks properly in a cardboard cupholder.
Starbucks has stated its intention to appeal the jury's decision, labeling the award as excessive.
The ongoing legal accountability faced by Starbucks echoes a landmark case from 1994 when Stella Liebeck was awarded over $2.8 million after spilling hot coffee on herself from a McDonald's establishment in New Mexico.
Her case has since been frequently cited in discussions regarding U.S. tort reform.
The outcomes of these latest lawsuits against Starbucks may further shape the legal landscape concerning liability in the service of hot beverages.
Both lawsuits have been filed in California, alleging negligence due to hot liquids spilling onto customers in drive-through locations.
The first lawsuit, lodged last week, involves plaintiff Sabrina Michelle Hermes, who claims she sustained serious injuries when hot liquid spilled onto her lap at a Starbucks outlet in Norwalk, near Los Angeles, two years ago.
According to court documents, Hermes alleges that one of the cups in her order was not properly secured when handed to her, resulting in the drink sloshing onto her legs, hip, knee, and feet.
The lawsuit asserts that Starbucks had a duty to exercise reasonable care in the preparation, handling, and service of hot beverages to prevent such injuries.
Hermes is seeking unspecified general and special damages, including compensation for past and future medical expenses and lost wages.
In a separate case in Alhambra Superior Court, Ernesto Vladimir Sanchez Avendano is pursuing unspecified damages for similar claims of negligence.
Avendano contends that he was handed a drink at a North Hollywood drive-through with a lid that was inadequately fastened, leading to a spill that caused severe burns and debilitating nerve damage.
A spokesperson for Starbucks announced that the company plans to contest both claims.
The representative emphasized the company's commitment to high safety standards in their stores regarding the handling of hot drinks and mentioned that they believe Hermes' claims are without merit.
The spokesperson also indicated that Starbucks had not yet received official notice of the lawsuit filed by Avendano but would review the claims thoroughly.
The recent wave of lawsuits comes on the back of a significant ruling in Los Angeles, where a jury mandated Starbucks to pay $50 million to Michael Garcia, a delivery driver who experienced burns when a super-sized drink spilled in his lap at a drive-through in February 2020. This case highlighted issues surrounding the handling of multiple drinks, as Garcia's lawyers asserted that an employee had failed to secure one of the drinks properly in a cardboard cupholder.
Starbucks has stated its intention to appeal the jury's decision, labeling the award as excessive.
The ongoing legal accountability faced by Starbucks echoes a landmark case from 1994 when Stella Liebeck was awarded over $2.8 million after spilling hot coffee on herself from a McDonald's establishment in New Mexico.
Her case has since been frequently cited in discussions regarding U.S. tort reform.
The outcomes of these latest lawsuits against Starbucks may further shape the legal landscape concerning liability in the service of hot beverages.
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