Coffee giant Starbucks is being sued by a man who claims he was poisoned with a cleaning solution.
Matthew Mitchell has filed a lawsuit against the green mermaid company, claiming there was a reckless display from management after he allegedly drank a black coffee, which evidently turned out to be blue, with no type of java at all.
TMZ obtained court documents in which Mitchell says he ordered and drank a simple coffee beverage from a Connecticut location last summer.
He said almost immediately, he felt a burning in his throat and chest. That is when he looked at his cup and saw a blue liquid that turned out to be a chemical substance that caused his stomach to turn upside down within seconds.
Mitchell alleges that he was told by the staff that a new employee had screwed up on his order, not realizing they were making coffee in a machine that had just gotten a Urnex treatment.
Mitchell faults Starbucks operations on alerting employees when the cleaning is going on. He says the system should be fixed to prevent accidents like this from happening.
He also referenced at least 2 other alleged poison victims that sued Starbucks for the exact same thing.
Mitchell received treatment, however, he says he continues to deal with the aftermath, including what he says is heightened anxiety and fear of the long-term effects of the Urnex, as well as other issues like medical bills.
He is asking a judge to award him a hefty amount of cash for damages, laid out in explicit terms by his attorney, Joe Tacopina.
TMZ reached out to Starbucks and was told, “Our baristas take great care in crafting beverages and providing a safe experience for our customers. We take this obligation seriously and are reviewing Mr. Mitchell’s claims.”
