"Lawsuits seem like a lottery”: Internet reacts as Delivery driver receives $50 million compensation in Starbucks case

Starbucks has been ordered to compensate delivery driver Michael Garcia with $50 million in damages by a Los Angeles court jury. Garcia was reportedly working with Postmates in 2020 when he was scheduled to pick up three "venti-sized" hot drinks from the coffee shop. Per Garcia's attorneys, including Michael Parker and Nick Rowley, the barista failed to secure one of the cups, which immediately fell into and led to third-degree burns in Garcia's genital areas.

Per Los Angeles Daily News, Starbucks representative, Jaci Anderson "sympathised" with Garcia but "disagreed" with the jury's decision. While the global coffee chain emphasized its "safety" standards, "including handling of hot drinks", Garcia's attorneys at the Trial Lawyers for Justice continued to pursue the case. Drama Alert took to its X to post about the verdict made on March 15, 2025.

Users took to the comment section, with some expressing surprise. One user (@David10X) noted,

"$50 million for a drink spill. Lawsuits seem like a lottery. Responsibility is lacking."

One user (@squishchamps) gave an example of another food chain that was involved in a similar trial. They wrote,

"This happened to an old lady at McDonald’s in the 90’s. That’s why they added the *EXTREMELY HOT LIQUID * label on coffee cups!"

Many users revealed surprise and joked about going to the coffee brand to do the same. One user (@cryptojammine) wrote,

"Oh wow that’s insane! That’s like , chump change to star bucks."

Another (@corgi408) wrote about the importance of maintaining safety standards,

"This case reminds us how crucial proper safety protocols are in food service."

A netizen (@coolzcoffee) made remarks on the packaging and wrote,

"They’re incredibly easy to spill because of the lids. Additionally, the paper cups are flimsy compared to McDonalds. Not surprised they’re getting sued."

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Starbucks vs. Michael Garcia: Jury announces verdict

Starbucks has made several headlines for its company policy and culture. In a statement shared by Nick Rowley, he noted that Michael's "life has forever been changed." He added,

"No amount of money can undo the permanent catastrophic harm he has suffered, but this jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility."

Trial Lawyers for Justice took to their Instagram to announce the verdict and detailed the initial offer made by Starbucks. It read,

"Starbucks offered $30 Million to settle but wanted confidentiality. We said we would settle for $30 Million without confidentiality and only if Starbucks agreed to publicly apologize and promise to change policy to prevent this from happening again."

The caption described Garcia's plight and wrote,

"After a hospitalization and multiple skin grafts, Michael has lived for five years with the disfigurement, pain, dysfunction, and psychological harm caused by the burns."

The post claimed that the coffee brand "denied responsibility," but was ultimately ordered to pay the damages.

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Time and again, individuals may seek justice through lawsuits against large corporations and companies. Many times, the lawsuits get prolonged, leading to a mentally and emotionally exhausting trial for many victims. While some users expressed surprise at the compensation, the lawyers emphasized the "psychological harm" over the past five years.

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