sourceIn 1994, a jury awarded a New Mexico woman $2.9 million after she was burned by spilled McDonald's coffee. Now a Bay County woman claims she's steamed at Starbucks for the same reason.Irene Bruno alleges she endured severe burns and permanent scars three years ago when a worker at a Midland County Starbucks Coffee outlet improperly secured a lid on a large cup of coffee, causing the hot liquid to spill onto Bruno's lap, inner thighs and legs.
Bruno, in a lawsuit filed in May in U.S. District Court, claims the lid on the coffee cup came off as she tried to sip the coffee just after buying the beverage at a Starbucks drive-thru window at 7201 Eastman, on Dec. 9, 2006.
Bruno seeks a minimum of $75,000 in damages in her lawsuit, alleging she has suffered "extreme humiliation and embarrassment" due to the scars visible on her body because of the coffee spill.
Bruno also alleges she has incurred medical expenses for treating her injuries, and claims Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. failed to properly train its workers to secure the lid on the large cup of coffee she bought from the Midland Starbucks.
The Times could not reach Bruno for comment. Her lawsuit maintains she was a resident of Bay County at the time of the coffee spill, but she has no phone number. Her attorney, Southfield lawyer Andrew M. Saperstein, could not be reached for comment.
Troy Nienberg, a Southfield attorney representing Starbucks Corp., declined comment about Bruno's lawsuit.
Bruno's lawsuit was filed April 13 in Bay County Circuit Court, but a circuit court judge ordered it transferred to U.S. District Court in Bay City on May 18.
In 1994, a jury awarded a New Mexico woman $2.9 million after she was burned by spilled coffee purchased from a McDonald's restaurant. A judge later reduced the punitive damages to $480,000 and the woman eventually settled for an undisclosed sum that was less than $600,000
What do you think about this? do you think these people should stop suing Star bucks, McDonald's and other places? Also dont they have those coffee holders that says its too hot or something along those lines for the Starbucks coffee. But yeah what do you think about this? Do you think the woman was a careless, like drinking coffee while driving or did she need to check the lid was safe and secure before driving that way she wouldnt spill the coffee in the first place? Was she reliable of understanding that since Im getting hot coffee I should check and make sure the lid is tight and secure... comment..
