In the state of Pennsylvania, USA, a court ruled in favor of a courier who suffered serious burns from hot tea from Starbucks, awarding him a record $50 million in damages. This case, one of the largest in the history of global corporations, draws attention to the issue of product safety and legal responsibility of major brands.
Maximiliano Castro, the plaintiff, suffered severe burns to his body when he spilled hot tea on himself while riding his motorcycle after delivering an order from Starbucks. He claimed that the lid on the cup was not properly sealed, leading to the spilling of hot liquid and second-degree burns.
Starbucks attempted to defend itself, stating that the lid was sealed correctly according to standards and that the incident was a result of improper use on the part of the courier.
The decision sparked widespread debate about whether companies bear responsibility for customer safety, especially in the context of the increasing dependence of the world on fast delivery services.
This case calls upon global companies to ensure the safety of their products, especially in an era of increasing importance of rapid delivery services.
After the court's decision, Starbucks announced that it would review its policies regarding hot beverage packaging and train its employees to inform customers about the risks of transferring liquids. The company reaffirmed its commitment to high safety standards and pledged to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, Starbucks' arguments did not convince the jurors, who believed that the company fully bore responsibility for the incident. The court awarded Castro $50 million in damages, which is considered a record amount in such cases.
