Raleigh police officer suing Starbucks says spilled coffee worth $10M

Matthew Kohr, a lieutenant with the special operations division, said when he was handed the cup at the Starbucks on Peace Street in January 2012, the lid popped off and the cup folded in on itself. He said he suffered third-degree burns and blisters, spent months on sick leave and struggled to return to his job.

Kohr said the trauma of the burn set off his Crohn’s Disease, and he needed surgery to remove a portion of his intestine. He and his wife are seeking compensation that could total $750,000.

“I had a lot of anxiety, a lot of unsteadiness and nervousness,” Kohr said. “I wasn’t comfortable in the car. You know, as a supervisor, in my experience as a police supervisor, you have to lead people and be confident. And I didn’t feel those same feelings I had in the past.”

The defense attorney argued that Kohr was suffering with some illnesses prior to the incident.

Kohr told the jury he deserves much more that the $750,000 that is being allowed in the civil suit.

“We said, ‘Well, what’s our life worth? What’s a year and a half or two years of your life worth?’” Kohr said. “I thought it was worth $10 million.”