$2.9M Awarded to Woman Burned by Hot BBQ Sauce at Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

A San Antonio woman, Genesis Monita, has been awarded $2.9 million after a jury determined that Bill Miller Bar-B-Q was negligent in serving her dangerously hot barbecue sauce, which caused severe burns. The verdict was announced at the conclusion of a trial last week.

According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred on May 19, 2023, at the barbecue chain’s location at Old Pearsall and Loop 410. Monita and her sister had stopped for breakfast tacos when Monita parked nearby to eat. Upon opening the barbecue sauce container, she dropped it due to its temperature, spilling it onto her right thigh and causing a second-degree burn.

“The barbecue sauce was so hot that it caused Ms. Monita to drop the container, leading to severe burns on her upper thigh,” the lawsuit claimed. The injury required medical treatment and resulted in permanent scarring.

Monita’s attorney, Lawrence Morales II, argued that Bill Miller Bar-B-Q violated its safety policies by serving the barbecue sauce at 189 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the standard 165 degrees. Furthermore, the sauce was served in a 4-ounce plastic cup, which Morales stated was inadequate for containing such a hot liquid, and no warning of the high temperature was provided.

After a detailed trial, the jury awarded Monita $900,000 in compensatory damages and $1.8 million in punitive damages. “This case underscores the importance of ensuring safety policies are strictly followed,” Morales said.

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q has yet to comment publicly on the verdict.