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A 19-year-old Texas woman, Genesis Monita, has been awarded $2.8 million after claiming she suffered second-degree burns from dangerously hot barbecue sauce.
The incident occurred in May 2023 when Monita purchased breakfast tacos and barbecue sauce at a Bill Miller Bar-B-Q drive-thru in San Antonio. According to her lawsuit, the sauce was placed in a brown paper bag, and as she prepared to eat in her parked car, the container's extreme heat caused her to drop it. The sauce spilled on her right thigh, resulting in a painful burn.
Monita’s attorney, Lawrence Morales II, argued during the trial in the 225th Civil District Court that Bill Miller Bar-B-Q had a policy of serving sauce at 165°F but had violated it by heating the sauce to an unsafe 189°F. The chain, founded in 1953, operates over 70 locations across Texas.
On Friday, the jury found the barbecue chain fully negligent, awarding Monita $2.8 million, including $900,000 for past and future mental anguish. The restaurant is entitled to appeal the verdict.
The case drew comparisons to Stella Liebeck’s famous lawsuit against McDonald’s, in which Liebeck sustained third-degree burns after spilling scalding coffee in her grandson’s car. That 1994 case initially resulted in $2.7 million in punitive damages, later reduced and ultimately settled out of court.
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is widely known for its barbecue plates, fried chicken, and breakfast tacos. The company has yet to release a public statement regarding the verdict.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk
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