Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Food

Starbucks Calls Fraud On Hot Coffee Suit


By

Garth Johnston

Published Mar 21, 2011

Modified Mar 21, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Garth Johnston

Published Mar 21, 2011

Modified Mar 21, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Starbucks is striking back. Like others—and Kramer—before her, a Pennsylvania woman is suing a coffee company for burning her with their hot beverage. But Starbucks, the coffee company in question in this case, isn't just rolling over and offering the victim free Joe for life. Instead they are calling her a liar.

Doctor and "self-described 'professional model'" Riffat Quershi is being accused of fraud by the Seattle giant after she filed a complaint against the company in Manhattan Federal Court. According to Qureshi in July 2006 a barista at the 'bucks on 120 W. 56th Street slid her coffee to her across the counter while shouting "Catch the cup." Qureshi says she didn't catch it, though, and instead was burned all over her stomach.

Rather than pay up Starbucks is refuting the story—according to their lawyer the woman's doctor will testify that the marks on her stomach were a rash and skin infection. And in private we suspect they are calling her story, in the words of Jackie Chiles, "outrageous, egregious, preposterous!"

Tagged

coffee lawsuit

hot coffee

Jackie Chiles

seinfeld

starbucks


Garth Johnston

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE food

North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.

Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.

By

Robert Sietsema

Published Oct 10, 2026


10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema

Food

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema


Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

By

Sonia Rao

5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

By

Hannah Frishberg

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

By

Robert Sietsema


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .