Starbucks forced to pay out $50,000,000 to customer after scalding tea left his ‘genitals burned and disfigured’

Starbucks has been ordered to pay out $50 million to a man who suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries to his genitals after they were severely ‘burned’ by hot tea.

Michael Garcia, a delivery driver in California, was waiting at a drive-thru for his drink when it spilled on his lap, according to a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court.

After the February 8, 2020, incident, Garcia has had to undergo various procedures to correct the ‘disfigurement’ caused by the beverage, including skin grafts and other treatments.

Michael Garcia can be see ordering his Starbucks on the day of the incident (KCAL News)

His attorneys claim that the venti-sized Starbucks drink immediately fell onto his crotch area after he bought it, resulting in injuries which were permanent and ‘life-changing’.

A Los Angeles County jury has since ruled in his favor after finding that an employee of the coffee chain improperly secured the drink into the takeout tray before passing it to him in his vehicle.

Following the verdict, Garcia’s attorney, Nick Rowley, wrote in a statement: “This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility.”

However, Starbucks isn’t as hot on the jury’s vote and plans to appeal the decision.

As per NBC, a company spokesperson wrote in a statement that the establishment ‘disagrees’ with the ruling, stating: “We disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive. We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks.”