A 19-year-old woman from Texas has filed a lawsuit against a barbecue restaurant chain, claiming that their barbecue sauce was so hot it caused second-degree burns on her legs when she accidentally spilled it. The young woman, Genesis Monita, is seeking over $1 million in damages from Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises for the injuries she says she suffered.
The case, which reminds many of the famous “hot coffee” lawsuit from 1992 involving a fast-food giant, focuses on the temperature of the sauce. Monita alleges the barbecue sauce was “dangerously hot” and spilled onto her lap while she was eating, leaving her with severe burns.
On the morning of May 19, 2023, Monita and her sister visited the Bill Miller BBQ restaurant located at 8800 SW Loop 410 in San Antonio, Texas. They ordered four breakfast tacos from the drive-thru and decided to park in the restaurant’s lot to eat. As Monita opened a container of barbecue sauce to enjoy with her meal, she says it was so hot that she dropped it. The sauce spilled onto her right thigh, leaving her with second-degree burns.
Monita’s attorney, Lawrence Morales II, told the court that the sauce was served at an unsafe temperature—189 degrees—well above the restaurant’s own policy of 165 degrees. He explained that Bill Miller BBQ had rules about keeping their sauce at a safe serving temperature but failed to follow them that day. Morales also pointed out that the sauce was served in a lightweight plastic cup, which provided little insulation, instead of a sturdier foam container that could have offered better protection.
However, the restaurant’s lawyer, Barry McClenahan, argued that Monita’s own actions led to the accident. He explained that the sauce was served at a minimum of 165 degrees to comply with food safety guidelines and that the restaurant had no upper limit for the temperature. He also emphasized that Monita had eaten the sauce many times before and was aware it was always hot. According to McClenahan, there was nothing new or unexpected about the situation.
“What would we have warned her about that she didn’t already know?” McClenahan asked.
This case has sparked comparisons to other well-known lawsuits involving injuries caused by hot food or beverages, raising questions about safety standards, personal responsibility, and the importance of following established policies. As the trial continues, the outcome will hinge on whether the jury believes the restaurant’s actions were negligent or if Monita bears responsibility for the incident.
