Update: Homeless man pleads guilty to throwing hot coffee in Starbucks barista's face

Jonathan A. Pease, 28, faces up to five years in prison. His actions left a female barista at a Crystal Lake, Illinois Starbucks with first- and second-degree burns to her face, neck and upper body. Read "Homeless man admits throwing coffee in barista's face" || Comments on the story

Comments

[Sheik]

It's a hard-knock life for Barista's...

[BaristaG]

Why is it I always get the complacent customers who just walk away when I throw them out? I wanna fight.

[Shawn]

This guy.... wasn't after the Barista. He was after the three meals, bed, and other "luxuries" that prison life is going to offer him!

[JavaJunk]

I have a friend who's defense mechanism is to get magically angry when the enemy is holding hot liquid. Needless to say no one confronts him holding a cup of coffee. Of course like this fellow he had done it before and was punished for it, it was considered assault, and the 2nd time he went to classes for domestic violence after being on probation and paying fines. It sounded absolutly absurd the punishment, but it is a compulse that replaces as a coping mechanism, these people need to be forced into rehabilitation or they relapse quickly and who knows what they will grab next or who they will scar.

[kathy koffee]

this is a prime example of some of the lunatics who come into our stores. now starbucks has decided that they can bring thier guns and ammunition, into our california stores. this is outragous, our customers and our staffs are concerned and scared they starbucks is not protecting us. starbucks is so afraid of a lawsuit that they will risk the saftey of their staff and customers. and they left us hanging in the wind, with no response except to tell angry customers to call the 800 number. my customers are angry. they don't feel safe and they don't think starbucks cares.

[Bobak]

The mentally unstable are such a problem to deal with --when our society gave them more freedoms in the 60s it has actually harmed both them (as many fall into homelessness and neglect) and, occasionally, undeserving victims like the poor girl at this Starbucks.

[Bobak]

@kathy koffee

How on earth is Starbucks (or any store) going to provide you with more protection? Arming you? Putting up glass? Have you thought through a solution?

[England Starbucks]

Will the barista recieve compensation?

[JadedConsumer]

McDonalds isn't the only dangerous cup of coffee in town!

The barrista's compensation is likely to be related to (a) her health benefits, (b) the attacker's insolvency, and (c) the limitations on the barrista's worker's compensation program. Claims against Starbucks for compensation will likely fail under doctrines related to the worker's compensation plan's replacement of ordinary legal remedies, and the unforeseeability of an attack by a customer.

In theory the barrista can hold the attacker liable, but this is only as good as his ability to pay. A homeless man facing prison isn't a good credit risk.

[generic viagra]

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