New NJ Dunkin' Lawsuit Claims 'Excessively Hot' Coffee Caused Permanent Injury

MADISON, NJ — A man has sued Dunkin' after he said he was served "excessively hot coffee" at the Madison location, which spilled on him and caused serious injuries after the lid dislodged.

This is the latest in a series of court filings against the coffee chain in the Garden State, including a lawsuit filed against a Morris County franchise owner last year.

Plaintiff Phillip Sgroi filed the lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court on Jan. 29, and claims he suffered permanent injuries from the hot liquid. The lawsuit does not indicate where Sgroi lives, only that he is a New Jersey resident.

According to the lawsuit, Sgroi ordered a hot coffee at the 227 Main Street location on Feb. 11, 2022. The lid on the cup became loose and the beverage spilled on him, per court documents.

The coffee "had been heated beyond industry standards" and was not safe for patrons to consume it, the lawsuit states.

Sgroi sustained "severe and painful injuries" on his body and limbs that required hospitalization and surgical intervention, according to the lawsuit. He is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages in the lawsuit, which the Vespi Law Firm originally filed on his behalf in Middlesex County Superior Court.

The law office of Frank A. Viscomi, which is representing Dunkin', has submitted a motion to change the venue to Morris County.

Other lawsuits against Dunkin' involving hot beverage spills have been filed in Passaic, Bergen, Camden, and Burlington counties, as Patch has reported in recent years.

Dunkin' did not return Patch's request for comment by 5 p.m. Monday.