A San Antonio restaurant chain has been ordered to pay $2.9 million in damages after a customer suffered second-degree burns from its “dangerously hot” barbecue sauce. Genesis Monita, 19, was the victim of the incident that occurred in 2023 at Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. The Bexar County jury found the restaurant guilty of “gross negligence” in causing Monita’s injuries.
Lawrence Morales II, the attorney representing Monita, emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for prioritizing customer safety over profits. He stated, “It sends the message that companies cannot put profits over customer safety. It protects people in our community and elsewhere when companies know that.” The jury awarded Monita $900,000 for her physical and emotional pain, medical expenses, and lost earnings, in addition to $1.8 million in punitive damages, as detailed by Kens 5.
The incident took place when Monita and her sister stopped at the restaurant’s drive-thru to grab breakfast tacos on their way to school. While eating in their car in the restaurant’s parking lot, Monita spilled the scalding barbecue sauce, causing burns to her right thigh. She asserted that the temperature of the sauce, which registered at 189 degrees, far exceeded the supposed 165-degree threshold for safe consumption.
Monita complained that she was not adequately warned about the extreme heat of the sauce and that the container was insufficient to prevent spills. During the trial, both Monita and her mother explained the impact of the injury, which led her to miss school and work and experience depression.
Morales informed the jury of another incident in which a woman suffered burns from the same Bill Miller location’s barbecue sauce. Despite these occurrences, the restaurant reportedly failed to implement new safety measures. The defense countered by highlighting that no complaints had been lodged regarding the sauce in the 865 days between the two accidents, during which over 2.2 million ounces of barbecue sauce were dispensed.
In response to the incident, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q stated that they promptly issued a check to cover Monita’s medical bills, offered to clean her car, and compensate for any lost wages. However, Monita declined these gestures, as per The Independent. The restaurant also maintained that Monita did not require further medical treatment after her initial visit and did not lose her job as a result of the incident.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring consumer safety and holding companies accountable for negligence. Genesis Monita’s experience underscores the potential consequences of failing to uphold proper safety standards in food service establishments.
