A Texas jury has awarded over $2.8 million in damages to a 19-year-old woman who sued Bill Miller BAR-B-Q for not warning customers about the dangerously high temperature of its barbecue sauce.
On May 19, 2023, Genesis Monita and her sister visited the popular San Antonio restaurant for breakfast. The visit, however, turned painful for Monita when she suffered a second-degree burn after the restaurant’s barbecue sauce spilled onto her lap. Monita claimed the sauce was too hot and argued the restaurant didn’t properly warn customers about the risk of burns.
Monita and her sister had ordered breakfast tacos and pots of the restaurant’s signature barbecue sauce through the drive-thru. After parking, as Monita reached for a sauce container, she accidentally dropped it. The hot sauce spilled onto her legs, causing the burn.
Monita filed a lawsuit against the restaurant, claiming the sauce was served at an excessive 189 degrees Fahrenheit, far above the safe temperature of 135 degrees as recommended by the state. She argued this caused her to drop the container and get injured. Monita also stated that the restaurant didn’t provide any warnings about the sauce’s high temperature.
In defense, Bill Miller’s attorney, Barry McClenahan, said the restaurant’s policy is to serve sauce at a minimum of 165 degrees, which is within food safety regulations, though it was reportedly hotter that day. He questioned what they could have warned Monita about, as customers are aware that the sauce is hot.
Monita’s lawsuit also mentioned physical injuries and mental anguish, seeking compensation for medical costs and lost wages. On January 17, a jury found the restaurant “grossly negligent” and awarded Monita $2.8 million in damages, including $900,000 for her suffering, over $25,000 for medical expenses, and $1.9 million in punitive damages. Monita’s attorney expressed satisfaction with the verdict, saying Genesis just wanted justice.