The 19-year-old customer argued Bill Miller BAR-B-Q didn’t provide enough warning about the sauce’s high temperature
A Texas jury has awarded over $2.8 million in damages to a woman who sued a popular barbecue chain, accusing it of failing to warn customers about the dangerously high temperature of its sauce.
On May 19, 2023, Genesis Monita, 19, and her sister stopped by Bill Miller BAR-B-Q, located in the 8800 block of SW Loop 410 in San Antonio, for breakfast. The visit, however, took a painful turn for Monita.
She reportedly suffered a second-degree burn after a pot of the restaurant’s barbecue sauce spilled onto her lap. Monita argued that the sauce was excessively hot and that the restaurant failed to adequately inform customers of the risk.
The Incident
According to reports, Monita and her sister placed their order through the drive-thru before parking in the lot to enjoy their meal.
They had ordered four breakfast tacos along with pots of the chain’s signature barbecue sauce.
As Monita reached for one of the sauce containers, she accidentally dropped it.
The sauce spilled onto her legs, allegedly due to its extreme heat, causing what she claimed were second-degree burns.
The incident prompted Monita to file a lawsuit against the restaurant, accusing it of negligence.
The Lawsuit
In the lawsuit, Monita alleged that the sauce was served at a scalding 189 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of her visit.
She argued that this temperature was dangerously high and far above the state-recommended guidelines of 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
The complaint claimed the extreme heat caused her to drop the container, leading to her injury.
Monita also pointed out that the restaurant did not provide sufficient warnings about the temperature of the sauce.
Attorney Barry McClenahan, representing Bill Miller BAR-B-Q, acknowledged that the restaurant’s policy is to serve sauce at a minimum of 165 degrees to comply with food safety regulations, but this was reportedly exceeded.
McClenahan argued in defense of the restaurant: “At Bill Miller’s, the sauce is always hot, and our customers know that. And that’s why it’s hot. What would we have warned Ms. Monita of that she did not already know?”
The lawsuit further claimed that Monita suffered not just physical injuries but also mental anguish.
She sought compensation for lost wages and medical expenses, including psychological care.
On January 17, a jury ruled in favor of Monita, finding the restaurant liable for the incident.
The Outcome
Following the trial, a six-member jury deemed the restaurant’s actions ‘grossly negligent’ and awarded Monita $2.8 million in damages.
This amount included $900,000 for her physical and emotional suffering, over $25,000 to cover her medical expenses, and $1.9 million in punitive damages.
Monita’s attorney, Lawrence Morales, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, telling KSAT: “We feel very pleased by the results of this case. Genesis just wanted justice.”