Starbucks Sued over "Unreasonably" Hot Tea

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after missing a chance during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group B match between Denmark and Portugal in Lviv, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) / Darko Vojinovic

For one Starbucks customer, the tea was too hot to handle.

The company is being sued by a customer who claims the tea was served "unreasonably hot, in containers which were not safe," at a Manhattan location, according to the complaint, Reuters reports.

The plaintiff, Zeynep Inanli, says as a result "great physical pain and mental anguish," accompanied the second-degree burns, according to the complaint.

The case is akin to a famous 1994 lawsuit against McDonald's over hot coffee in which the fast food giant was ordered to pay nearly $3 million to the plaintiff.

Click here for the full Reuters report

[salgal80]

I read on the New York Personal Injury Law Blog that Zeynep Inanli is a pro tennis player and spent 5 days in a burn treatment facility. That could explain some of the "mental anguish" if she thought the injury would permanently affect her game. She should be making pretty good money on her own however, considering she is also a Director of Sales.

Does she deserve coverage for her treatment? Sure, that's what insurance is for. Does she deserve millions? I highly doubt it.

[iwant12]

A couple of times I have ordered an Ice Cold Drink. Once I spilled it on me and got cold burns and another time gulped it down and got brain freeze. I was going to sue but just decided not to order cold drinks anymore.

[retm-w]

Whatever happened to common sense and taking responsibility for your actions.

[ladyang]

Ways to get rich in America:
Sue for money
Hit the lottery
Inherite it, only if you'r related to B Gates, W Buffet, O Winfrey

[CALACTX]

No matter what you think of this lawsuit, this case does provoke questions about our society and how we use the civil justice system. Questions like, do we as a society play the blame game? Do we point the finger of blame at others instead of taking personal responsibility for our actions and their consequences? Are we creating an unfair burden on the legal system ? and consumers and taxpayers ? by taking questionable cases to court?

In many cases the answer to these questions is yes. The blame game has made big winners out of a few, but big losers out of the rest of us who bear the burden.

Accidents occur daily through activities involving risks. Should others pay for the results of those decisions? Accept responsibility for your own accident! GET A GRIP, NOT A LAWSUIT!! For more information see www.calactx.com

[goirish1974]

Did he seek medical care for his second-degree burns?

[tanker144]

I think Starbucks should hand out asbestos mitts with their coffee. Ya might not get burned now...

I missed my opportunity when I was 18 and a group of us went to Pizza Hut for dinner. The lady brings out the pizza and I bit into it. The hot cheeze blistered the roof of my mouth and hurt like a sum-gun. This was back in 1980, so I could have been that landmark case. Drat!!!

[Idisagree]

Those sleeves are there for a reason.

[tsigili]

Got a solution for you......don't go to Starbucks.

[Idisagree]

Don't tell me, the tea baggers are at it again. :)