San Antonio Woman Awarded $2.9 Million After Barbecue Sauce Burns

News Summary

Genesis Monita from San Antonio has been awarded $2.9 million following a serious incident involving dangerously hot barbecue sauce at Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. The incident, which occurred during a breakfast outing in May 2023, led to second-degree burns and legal action against the restaurant for negligence. A jury found the restaurant 100% liable, highlighting concerns about their serving temperatures and safety protocols, as it was found the sauce was served at 189 degrees, exceeding the safe limit by 54 degrees.

San Antonio Woman Gets $2.9 Million After Horrific Barbecue Sauce Incident

In a surprising twist of events, a woman from the heart of San Antonio, Genesis Monita, has been awarded a whopping $2.9 million after enduring a painful incident involving dangerously hot barbecue sauce at a local favorite, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. This unfortunate event took place on May 19, 2023, making it a memorable day for all the wrong reasons.

How It All Went Down

The whole incident unfolded during what was supposed to be a delightful breakfast outing. Monita was happily munching on breakfast tacos with her sister when she accidentally dropped a container of barbecue sauce that was, according to reports, scorching hot! The sauce spilled all over her right thigh, resulting in distressing second-degree burns.

Now, a bit of background on the temperature of the sauce: it was served at a shocking 189 degrees—way over the restaurant’s own policy of a safer 165 degrees. This raised some serious red flags, leading Monita to file a lawsuit in October 2023 in the local Bexar County District Court.

Negligence and the Lawsuit

When Monita decided to pursue her case, she argued that the employees at Bill Miller were negligent not just in serving the sauce too hot, but also in the way it was presented. The sauce came in a 4-ounce plastic cup, which was deemed inadequate for such a dangerously heated product.

In court, it became clear that the jury had strong feelings about the case. They found the renowned barbecue chain 100% negligent when it came to the damages Monita suffered. After examining the evidence, they awarded her a staggering $900,000 in compensatory damages for her physical and mental anguish, in addition to $1.8 million in punitive damages.

The Aftermath of the Incident

This was not just a minor mishap; Monita has since had to deal with significant physical and emotional pain, along with noticeable physical impairment and disfigurement from her injuries. The incident has obviously taken a toll on her quality of life, and the jury recognized this with their decision.

Interestingly, it appears Bill Miller Bar-B-Q may have a history with such incidents, as reports indicated that a similar case occurred two years prior when another customer experienced burns from the overly hot sauce. This ongoing trend raises questions about the restaurant’s practices and attention to safety protocols.

Legal Insights

Monita’s lawyer, Lawrence Morales II, was instrumental in bringing the state safety regulations into the spotlight. He argued that Bill Miller’s serving temperatures surpassed acceptable state guidelines by a staggering 54 degrees. This claim not only highlighted negligence on the restaurant’s part but also set the stage for a significant legal victory for Monita.

What’s Next?

As the dust settles on this case, it leaves many wondering how Bill Miller Bar-B-Q will respond. Will they be more vigilant in their cooking practices to prevent such potential disasters in the future? Only time will tell. For now, Monita can breathe a little easier knowing that justice was served in her case.

This whole incident has certainly sparked discussions about food safety and customer care in the restaurant industry. It’s a stark reminder that even the most routine outings can take a dangerous turn. Let’s hope this story encourages eateries everywhere to keep their sauces cool and their customers safe!

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