Torts/Personal Injury
Jul. 31, 2026
Starbucks sued over hot coffee spill that allegedly caused severe burns
A Riverside County lawsuit alleges a Starbucks customer suffered severe burns requiring 25 days of hospitalization and multiple skin graft surgeries after a drive-through coffee spilled from a defective cup with an improperly secured lid. The suit cites a recent $50 million Starbucks burn verdict as evidence the company was on notice of alleged safety hazards.
A Southern California woman has sued Starbucks Corp., alleging she suffered catastrophic burns requiring weeks of hospitalization and multiple surgeries after a cup of scalding hot coffee spilled onto her lap during a drive-through transaction at a Wildomar store.
The lawsuit filed in Riverside County Superior Court alleges Leota Walker was injured in June when a Starbucks employee handed her a hot coffee in a defective cup with an improperly secured lid.
The complaint wa...
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