California Man Awarded $7.5M After Slip and Fall at Starbucks

A Vista Superior Court jury has ordered Starbucks to pay a chiropractor and his family $7.5 million after a slip and fall accident left him with a brain injury.

Court records show the amount aims to compensate Anthony Zaccaglin for loss of income, medical expenses and the loss of enjoyment of life, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

In March 2008 Zaccaglin was in a Starbucks picking up his order when he slipped on a just mopped area hitting his head on the floor, according to his attorney John Gomez. A Starbucks employee had just mopped the area and a store manager testified she put out three cones warning customers of the wet floor but witnesses said they only saw one, Gomez said.

Zaccaglin went to a doctor the next day with persistent head pain, nausea and other symptoms and was told he suffered from a concussion. Doctors later diagnosed him with mild brain trauma that required more than a year of brain-injury therapy. Zaccaglin has not been able to return to work.

A Starbucks spokesman said in a statement they were sorry Zaccaglin was injured at its store.

“However, we are disappointed with the size of the verdict as we made every effort to reach a mutually agreeable and reasonable settlement with Mr. Zaccaglin,” the statement said. “We are reviewing the decision to determine what, if any, steps we may take in response.”

Gomez disputes this claim, saying the Seattle-based company never offered more than $100,000 to settle the case.