A Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner has agreed to pay $3 million to a customer who suffered severe burns after a hot coffee spill. The Atlanta-based franchise, Golden Donuts, LLC, reached this settlement to address allegations of active and gross negligence. Notably, Dunkin’ Donuts, the parent company, was not named in the lawsuit.
Incident Background
In February 2021, the plaintiff, Alpana Joshi, who was 70 years old at the time, purchased a coffee from the Golden Donuts drive-thru. After receiving the coffee, the lid came off, spilling hot coffee onto her lap and causing second and third-degree burns to her thighs, groin, and abdomen. According to her attorney, Joshi required extensive skin grafts and spent weeks in a burn unit, accruing approximately $200,000 in medical expenses. The severity of her injuries necessitated relearning how to walk, and she continues to experience pain and requires frequent treatment for her burns, including avoiding sun exposure.
Legal Proceedings
Represented by Benjamin J. Welch of Morgan & Morgan, Joshi filed a lawsuit against Golden Donuts, alleging that the drive-thru employee failed to properly secure the lid on her coffee cup. The complaint, titled Alpana Joshi v. Golden Donuts LLC, 22-C-02023-S1, was filed in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia, claiming that Golden Donuts was vicariously liable for its employees’ negligence.
Welch stated, “We are glad that Golden Donuts finally agreed to a settlement that will fairly compensate our client for her injuries and how they’ve negatively impacted her life.” Neither Golden Donuts nor Dunkin’ Donuts has issued a public statement regarding the settlement.
Broader Context
This case may evoke memories of a famous coffee burn lawsuit from 1994, when a jury awarded $2.9 million to a plaintiff burned by coffee from McDonald’s. Although the punitive damages were later reduced significantly, the case sparked widespread debate about the appropriateness of such awards.
Currently, there appears to be a resurgence of hot coffee-related lawsuits. McDonald’s is also facing a similar lawsuit after a customer at a San Francisco location claimed she burned herself due to a poorly secured lid.
According to John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, “Restaurants still have failed to learn their lesson to prioritize customers’ safety. We hope this settlement sends a message to all restaurants and franchisees: this isn’t complicated; train your employees properly and prioritize customer safety.”