9th Circuit Ices Class Action Against Starbucks

Rejects plaintiff claims that coffee chain inflated ounces of cold drinks

Pouring Violations

Back in June 2016, Alexander Forouzesh filed a class action complaint against Starbucks in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that "a Starbucks customer who orders and pays for a Cold Drink receives much less than advertised – often nearly half as many fluid ounces."

At the heart of the complaint is the standardized process by which Starbucks baristas create cold or iced drinks. First, the suit alleges, the base liquid is poured into clear cups with line markings that correspond to the sizes offered by the chain – tall, grande, venti and trenta. Once the liquid reaches the appropriate line, the barista uses specially designed scoops to add predefined amounts of ice to the cup.