California man wins $50 million in lawsuit over burns from Starbucks tea

Too much money..

I hope Starbucks appeals well..

Australia had law reform in tort/negligence law some decades ago to prevent excessive payments like this.

Payments now reality based , focusing on potential income lost as the main criteria, although punitive damages sometimes, rarely , awarded where the defendant shows reckless disregard to the plaintiff.

Also elevated the idea of personal responsibility if an accident happens.

So, in at least Aussie Courts, you would ask, "how much would a DELIVERY DRIVER be out of pocket over his lifetime, throw in medical bills, and subtract something for not being careful about a hot beverage.

A million bucks would seem generous.

it’s always excessive payout when it’s someone else.

“I have a scalding hot beverage. Where should I put it? I know!! bETwEeN mY lEgS!”

The guy is an idiot. The judge is a moron.

Another reason why America is a crappy country.

Exorbitant payout. I never feel sorry for fat-cat businesses like Starbucks who routinely exploit foreign laborers in lesser developed countries and underpay their staff but this is way too much. They should pay for the surgeries and some money for pain and suffering but nothing over half a mil.

Classic example of American stupidity.

There's deterrence element, clearly Judge felt Starbucks was negligent regarding customer safety and risk mgmt.

Know payouts tax deductible, so for SBX shareholders it's only a rounding error in earnings. But SBX struggling in general, poor publicity by far most damaging element.

Hope...I am unsure, but in some US states the jury comes up with the figure, at the goading of the lawyer for plaintiff.

No sane Judge would award $50 million.

Not even a Trump appointee.

Hope..come on..."poor publicity' ?

Its an example of a vulture class in US lawyers.

There has to some restriction on this ....people have to take personal responsibility...hot tea will be...hot.

What would be the grounds if the tea was tepid ?

Depression and a life long aversion to tea ?

$100 million .

He WINS !

It was a Contest

$50 million dollars. This is absolutely crazy amount.

Judge felt in order to alter Starbucks behavior, force them to adopt (and pay for) best practices across their network of thousands of cafes, $penalty was warranted.

Do know that the contingency lawyers representing the plaintiff, did their job VERY well, found a good venue to sue and will take approx. half the settlement.

Case where large companies have greater responsibility for public safety vs. smaller ones. For Starbucks, they'll deduct this cost from taxes, so immaterial impact on their earnings, but damage to their public goodwill is real.