NEW YORK: Coffee giant Starbucks has been ordered to pay a California drive-through customer RM225 million (US$50 million) after an unsecured hot drink spilled on him, causing burns.

Michael Garcia underwent skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals after he was handed a takeout tray of venti-sized drinks at a drive-through on Feb 8, 2020.

The lawsuit was filed in California Superior Court in the same year.

The legal action alleges that Starbucks breached its duty of care by failing to secure the lid properly.

Michael Parker, Garcia's lawyer, stated that his client was collecting three beverages when one of the hot drinks had not been fully inserted into the carrier.

According to Parker, when the barista handed Garcia the order, the drink fell out of the carrier and spilled onto Garcia.

Garcia's damages included physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, inconvenience, grief, disfigurement, physical impairment, anxiety, and emotional distress according to a recording of the verdict from Courtroom View Network.

Starbucks has announced plans to appeal the verdict, CNN reported.

"We sympathise with Mr Garcia, but we disagree with the jury's decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

"We have always been committed to the highest safety standards in our stores, including the handling of hot drinks."

The case draws parallels with the well-known 1994 lawsuit against McDonald's, in which a woman spilled hot coffee on her lap, suffering third-degree burns.

The plaintiff in that case, Stella Liebeck, was initially awarded nearly US$3 million.