Starbucks Lawsuit Information

A Starbucks lawsuit may involve scalds from hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate - even a freeze burn from iced coffee...

Starbucks Overview

Starbucks is a well-known international coffeehouse chain with will over 16,226 outlets in 44 countries (including 11,434 in the US alone). They sell drip-brewed coffee, expresso-based hot drinks, hot chocolate, etc.

During the 1990s Starbucks opened a new store just about every day. This growth stopped in the 2000s, although they are still opening stores in foreign countries. In July of 2008 they closed 600 stores and cut almost 1,000 retail jobs.

Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegel and Gordon Bowker founded Starbucks in 1971 in Seattle, Washington. Howard Schulz joined them in 1983 and suggested they sell expresso. They didn't go for that idea, so Schulz opened a coffee bar chain in 1985 called Il Giornale.

In 1987 Starbucks was sold to Schultz who changed the Il Giornale stores to Starbucks and started an expansion program. The first Starbucks location outside the US was in Tokyo in 1996. Up until then there were no Starbucks lawsuits.

After taking some time off from business Schultz returned to heading up Starbucks. He is facing dilemmas such as how to contend with higher material prices and competitors such as McDonalds and Dunkin' Donuts.

Starbucks Problems & Legal Issues

Along with the growing pains of rapid expansion and stiff competition come the gaffs of offering specials that go awry now and then. With so many outlets worldwide it's almost a given that things can and will go wrong.

The most evident problem that cropped-up was the question of how hot to serve coffee and how cold to serve iced coffee drinks. When serving others, things happen that you wouldn't always expect - things that may end up in the filing of a Starbucks lawsuit.

The harmful effects of scalding coffee on the skin may include burns ranging in degree from 1st to 3rd, blisters, pain, peeling, potential infection, swollen skin and itching. Some burns may require skin grafts and/or plastic surgery.

Starbucks Lawsuits

In 2001 a Boston man claimed a loose lid on a cup of Starbucks iced coffee caused him to slosh the cups contents on his chest and hand. Mr. Bays sued Starbucks for $3.7 million for freezer burns and body chills, alleging negligence.

It was later determined by an insurance adjuster that Mr. Bays spilled the drink on himself due to impatient consumption and excessive sipping.

In 2006 a woman buying hot chocolate at a Starbucks drive-thru heard her daughter scream in pain. The hot chocolate had scalded her and the family sued Starbucks. The lawsuit alleged the child's skin had fallen off where she was scalded and required several medical treatments.

The public relations firm for Starbucks pointed out the incident happened after the car had pulled away from the drive-thru.

Another Starbucks lawsuit was settled for $70,000 - a case where coffee was accidently spilled on a 7-month old baby. The baby sustained second-degree burns on his legs and groin while the server was attempting to give coffee to the child's father. The lawsuit further alleged that the baby received treatment at Shriner's Hospital in Boston for several months.

A March 2005 lawsuit over a collapsing cup that caused a student to burn her hands was thrown out of court.

And in 2007 a New Jersey man filed a Starbucks lawsuit alleging he received third-degree burns to his hands because the lid on his hot tea came off. The suit further alleged the lid was not on properly and the liquid was too hot.

If you have been badly burned due to an incident involving Starbucks hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate, you may be eligible for damages. Talk to a lawyer with experience in this area to discuss your case prior to deciding if you will file a Starbucks lawsuit.




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