A California delivery driver has been awarded $50 million in damages by a jury who says Starbucks is to blame for a hot drink that spilled on the driver’s lap, causing him severe pain and disfigurement, when he came through the drive-thru window in 2020.

Michael Garcia filed his lawsuit after he said the spilled drink caused permanent disfigurement of his groin area, leading him to receive two skin grafts and a host of other medical services to help ease the pain and medical complications he endured during his ongoing recovery.

In a press release, Garcia’s attorney, Nick Rowley, shared that Garcia’s “life has been changed forever,” adding, “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.”

After the verdict was announced earlier this month, Starbucks was quick to respond, saying it was going to appeal the decision. A spokesperson for the coffee company shared, “We sympathize with Mr. Garcia, but we disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive.” The spokesperson added, “We plan to appeal. We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks.”

Reports indicate that Starbucks initially entered into negotiations with Garcia for up to $30 million, but negotiations weren’t fruitful, resulting in Garcia receiving the eye−popping $50 million award.

During settlement negotiations, Garcia asked Starbucks to enact a new policy that would require baristas to double-check their drinks as well as issue an apology for their negligence. However, the coffee chain denied these requests.

Initially, Starbucks argued that Garcia did not sustain “any injury, damage, or loss by reason of any act or omission” by Starbucks employees and even added that Garcia may have contributed to his injuries through “contributory negligence.”

After negotiations toward the settlement fell through, the case went to trial, where the jury ultimately sided with Garcia.

While some may call the judgment excessive, damages, including compensatory damages (those designed to make you whole) and punitive damages (those designed to punish a negligent defendant) can quickly mount if a resulting injury is severe and life-altering.

Garcia’s lawsuit stems from the claim that Starbucks was negligent in its actions while serving him the drink. According to the complaint, it was foreseeable that someone might receive bodily injury if a hot drink spilled on them. As a result, Starbucks should have properly sealed the cover of the cup containing the hot beverage. According to footage of the drink handoff from the barista to Garcia, Garcia’s lawsuit details that the barista did not properly secure the cover onto the cup.

Ongoing medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life are just some of the factors that can quickly rack up to a substantial payout in a personal injury lawsuit.

This momentous jury decision is reminiscent of a similar staggering verdict in a 1992 case where a 79-year-old McDonald’s customer, Stella Liebeck, had a hot coffee spill on her lap as she went through one of the fast-food chain’s New Mexico locations. McDonald’s was known to serve its hot coffee at a temperature of 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly hotter than other restaurants.

As a result, she suffered third-degree burns that were so severe her sweatpants fused into her skin, according to reports.

Liebeck initially asked the fast-food giant to pay her medical bills, but after the company denied responsibility, she filed a lawsuit in which she was awarded a judgment including $160,000 in compensatory damages and $ 2.7 million in punitive damages. Liebeck and McDonald’s would go on to settle the case for roughly $600,000, according to reports.