Starbucks has said it plans to appeal the verdict. (AP: Gene J. Puskar)
In short:
A US man has won $79 million in a lawsuit after he was burned by a scalding-hot drink from Starbucks.
The delivery driver suffered life-changing disfigurement when the drink spilt on his lap in 2020.
What's next?
Starbucks will appeal the decision.
A delivery driver has won $US50 million ($79 million) in a lawsuit after being seriously burned when a Starbucks drink spilled in his lap at a California drive-through, according to court records.
A Los Angeles County jury found for Michael Garcia, who underwent skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals after a large-sized tea drink spilled after he collected it on February 8, 2020.
He suffered permanent and life-changing disfigurement, according to his lawyers.
Mr Garcia's negligence lawsuit blamed his injuries on Starbucks, saying that an employee didn't wedge the scalding-hot tea firmly enough into a take-out tray.
"This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility," one of Mr Garcia's lawyers, Nick Rowley, said in a statement.
Starbucks said it sympathised with Mr Garcia but planned to appeal.
"We disagree with the jury's decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive," the Seattle-based coffee giant said in a statement, adding that it was "committed to the highest safety standards" in handling hot drinks.
US eateries have faced lawsuits before over customer burns.
In one famous 90s case, a New Mexico jury awarded a woman nearly $US3 million in damages for burns she suffered while trying to pry the lid off a cup of coffee at a McDonald's drive-through.
A judge later reduced the award, and the case ultimately was settled for an undisclosed sum under $US600,000.
Juries have sided with restaurants at times, as in another 90s case involving a child who tipped a cup of McDonald's coffee onto himself in Iowa.
AP