A Texas woman was awarded millions in damages after a barbecue sauce served at a Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurant allegedly caused her second-degree burns. The incident occurred in May 2023 when Genesis Monita, 19, ordered breakfast tacos from the restaurant’s drive-thru. After receiving her food, Monita and her sister parked in the lot to eat. As Monita began to enjoy her meal, she opened a container of barbecue sauce, which she claimed was so hot that it spilled onto her lap, causing severe burns on her right thigh.
Monita filed a lawsuit against the restaurant chain, asserting that the sauce was dangerously overheated, reportedly at 189 degrees, which is well above the state’s food safety guidelines of 135 degrees. Her lawyer, Lawrence Morales, argued that the sauce’s temperature was not only excessive but a significant factor in the injuries Monita sustained. He also pointed out that a similar incident had occurred at the same restaurant two years earlier, questioning how many more such events would need to take place before the restaurant took steps to prevent them.
The jury ultimately sided with Monita, awarding her millions for the damages and suffering caused by the incident. Morales expressed satisfaction with the verdict, emphasizing that Monita had only sought justice for the injuries she had suffered. According to court records, the restaurant chain’s attorney, Barry McClenahan, defended the company by stating that Bill Miller Bar-B-Q’s policy was to serve the sauce at a minimum of 165 degrees, in accordance with food safety regulations. He further argued that the restaurant did not have a policy against heating the sauce beyond that temperature. McClenahan suggested that Monita’s injuries were the result of her own negligence, as she had eaten the sauce many times before and should have been aware of its temperature.
Despite the defense’s arguments, Morales questioned the restaurant’s safety practices and emphasized that the excessive heat of the sauce played a major role in the burns Monita suffered. The lawsuit drew attention to the importance of maintaining food safety standards and the responsibility of restaurants to ensure their products do not pose a danger to customers.
Monita’s case highlights the potential risks of serving food at dangerously high temperatures and the need for businesses to adhere to safety guidelines that protect consumers. While some may argue that customers should be aware of the heat of food items, the excessive temperature of the sauce in this case raised questions about the restaurant’s responsibility to ensure that its products are safe for consumption. The jury’s decision underscores the importance of holding businesses accountable for maintaining proper safety protocols and ensuring that their products do not cause harm to customers.
As a result of the verdict, the restaurant may face increased scrutiny regarding its food safety practices, particularly concerning the temperature of its barbecue sauce. This case serves as a reminder that even seemingly small oversights can have serious consequences for both businesses and consumers, particularly when it comes to public health and safety. The outcome of this lawsuit may prompt other businesses to reevaluate their safety standards to avoid similar incidents in the future.
