A California man says he can’t get down with the get down and has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks for the burns he allegedly suffered to his stomach, hands, and genitals, after the lid popped off his tea and landed in his lap.
via NYDN:
Tommy Piluyev was waiting at the drive-thru with his wife at the Roseville coffee chain when the incident unfolded on Oct. 5, 2018. Then 22, Piluyev ordered two grande-sized Honey Citrus Mint Teas, and then pulled up to the final window in his BMW to pickup both beverages, according to the Sacramento Bee.
“As the window associate reached to the SUV’s window sill to deliver the second sleeved and lidded cup to Mr. Piluyev, the lid lost its seal with the cup lip and dislodged from the top of the cup,” according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Sacramento.
“Hot tea spilled on Mr. Piluyev’s left hand during the transfer, the cup overturned on the window sill and hot tea poured onto Mr. Piluyev’s hands, stomach and pelvic area.”
The pain was intense, sending Piluyev fleeing from the drive-thru lane. Just as soon as he was able, he whipped open his car door and stripped off his sweatpants with the hope of receiving just a bit of relief from the heat.
By the time he arrived at Sutter Roseville Medical Center’s emergency room he had already suffered from “partial-thickness burns with blistering across the lower left abdomen, thighs, penis, scrotum, peritoneum and buttocks,” according to the suit.He stayed 11 days in the burn unit, where “he required intravenous pain control along with intensive and invasive wound care.”
Following his discharge, Piluyev slowly regained the ability to walk and some hand function — but is still unable to play his beloved piano.
“The sensitivity and permanent skin discoloration and disfigurement of Mr. Piluyev’s genitals and inner thighs made eventual intimacy awkward and painful,” according to the suit, which takes aim at Starbucks and lid maker Packaging Inc.
Whitney Davis, Piluyev’s attorney, told CBS 13 Starbucks had been aware of a problem with its lids, citing 80 complaints a day about defects from employees.
Starbucks in a responding statement said it was investigating Piluyev’s allegations.
“We are currently evaluating the claim. Our partners take great pride in ensuring our beverages are crafted with care and delivered to customers safely,” the chain said.
“We take our responsibility to provide a safe environment seriously and will continue to do so.”
If we’re being completely honest, we’ve had a lid or two pop off our Starbucks drinks in recent days — especially since they switched to those new straw-less lids.
