A free cup of coffee may cost Starbucks a lot of money after a lawsuit is filed.

According to WTVD, a Raleigh police officer was given a free cup of coffee back in January 2012.  He spilled it on himself when the lid popped off and the cup collapsed.

>> Read more trending stories  

Matthew Kohr claims the accident caused enough stress that it activated his Crohn's disease that eventually forced him to have surgery to remove part of his intestine.

WTVD reported Kohr's wife was in court with him this week as a co-plaintiff saying she lost her "intimate partner" due to the coffee spill.

Kohr had also sued the cup's manufacturer, but that company, which was unnamed by WTVD, is no longer part of the lawsuit.

Jury selection is underway.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, among others, will no longer be considered fee-free days at U.S. National Parks. While the MLK National Historic Park in Atlanta doesn't charge admission, the new schedule will affect such metro Atlanta sites as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Fans celebrate in the stands after Cape Verde defeated Eswatini in a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Estádio Nacional in Praia, Cape Verde, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to clinch their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Cristiano Barbosa/AP)

Credit: AP