Starbucks lawsuit alleges woman burned by hot coffee

Starbucks hot coffee lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Muriel Evans filed a lawsuit against Starbucks Corporation. 
• Why: Evans claims Starbucks is responsible for burns she allegedly suffered when a Starbucks barista allegedly mishandled a cup of hot coffee she was being served while in the drive thru. 
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

A consumer who was burned by hot coffee she purchased at a Starbucks drive thru claims the company is responsible for her injuries. 

Plaintiff Muriel Evans’ lawsuit claims Starbucks served her a coffee that was an estimated 190 degrees Fahrenheit and that contained a defective lid which “instantly” came off as the barista handed her the beverage.  

“Plaintiff Muriel Evans was one of the victims of Starbucks’ knowing indifference to the obviously dangerous mixture of excessively hot temperatures combined with defective lids,” the Starbucks lawsuit says.

Evans further argues the barista, who is listed as a Doe in the complaint, mishandled the coffee drink when handing her the drink. 

“The scalding hot liquid spilled into Ms. Evans’ lap while she was seated in her car and burned her badly,” the Starbucks lawsuit says. 

Starbucks put consumer at ‘entirely unnecessary risk,’ suit says

The lawsuit argues Starbucks ultimately put Evans at an “entirely unnecessary risk” by “putting profits over safety.” 

“For decades now, sellers of hot drinks have known that the excessive heat at which they serve their drinks can cause serious burn injuries to their customers,” the Starbucks lawsuit says. 

Evans claims she suffered “significant” injuries from the coffee spill, including but not limited to severe burn wounds, nerve damage and “permanent disfigurement.” 

The lawsuit claims Starbucks is guilty of negligence and strict product liability. Evans demands a jury trial and requests an award of general, special and punitive damages. 

A trio of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Starbucks earlier this year over claims the company violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by imposing a surcharge on all its non-dairy milk substitutions. 

Have you been burned by a Starbucks coffee? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Brian J. Kim and Maureen K. Hennessey of SHK Law Corporation and Nicholas C. Rowley and Henry A. Peacor of Trial Lawyers For Justice. 

The Starbucks hot coffee lawsuit is Evans v. Starbucks Corporation, et al., Case No. 24CMCV01268, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

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