Starbucks not liable for burns sustained by police officer, jury finds

A North Carolina police officerburned by a free cup of Starbucks coffee haslost a $50,000 US suitagainst the coffee giant, a jury concluded Monday.

Starbucks is not liable for the burnsMatthew Kohr experienced when his coffee spilled on his lap in 2012, the Associated Press reports.

The Raleigh police officerclaimed the coffee's lid popped off andthe cup collapsed, which caused hot coffee to spill on his lap causing burns, blisters, emotional damage andmakinghis Crohn's diseaseintensely worse.

"We are pleased with the jury's decision as we believe our partners (employees) did nothing wrong. The safety of our customers and partners will continue to be our top priority," a Starbucks spokeswoman said in an email to Triangle Business Journal.

Here are some of the photos used as evidence in the trial.

The case is reminiscent of the McDonald's hot coffee case which generated international attention in the early 1990s.

Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurantsbecame a focal pointof debate in the U.S. about what some called frivolous litigation.

In 1992, then 79-year old StellaLiebecksuffered burns when sheaccidentally spilled just 0.2 litresofhot McDonalds coffee in her lap and pelvic region. She sued the restaurant chainand was subsequently awarded $2.9 million USby a jury in 1994.

Kohr addressedreporters and thanked jurors for hearing his case.

"I really appreciate their time, doing their civic duty, and helping us with our dispute," he said. "We thank everybody for the support and we're looking forward to moving on and putting this behind us and moving forward."