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Texas Teen Awarded $2.8M in Lawsuit After Severe Burns from Overheated BBQ Sauce at San Antonio Restaurant

It was finally time for justice to be delivered to the 19-year-old teenager from Texas who endured second-degree burn injuries after BBQ sauce fell on her and was awarded damages worth $2.8 million.

The incident happened in May 2023 at a Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurant in San Antonio and the victim whose name was Genesis Monita suffered from second degree burns. Later the victim sued the restaurant company over violation of hot food safety protocols.

Texas Teen Wins $2.8M Lawsuit After Suffering Severe Burns from Overheated BBQ Sauce

The victim and her sister had stopped at the Old Pearsall and Loop 410 location of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q to have breakfast. Monita poured the BBQ sauce in a plastic which was heated to 189°F, far in excess to the chain’s operating guidelines of 165°F.

The cup slipped onto Monita’s thighs and caused severe burns and tissue burns which required prolonged hospitalization and later plastic surgeries to remove the scars caused by the burns.

Monita was represented by her attorney Lawrence Morales II who alleged that the restaurant chain had not followed the safety protocols which included use of Styrofoam containers, which are typically used to prevent such accidents.

The lawsuit was heard by a 12-person jury and awarded a total of $2.8 million which included medical expenses and damages for past and future physical pain, emotional distress, and impairment. The panel fined the restaurant a hefty $1.9 million for gross negligence and not following safety protocols.

Monita’s legal representatives hailed the decision and said it will serve as a message to food chains and restaurants who are negligent and do not follow the safety protocols.

The food chain on its part denied any wrongdoing and said that all the safety protocols are followed by the employees. It also stated that customers are well aware that the BBQ sauce is served hot.

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q also stated that it was ready to compensate the victim’s medical expenses and the lost wages after the incident but the offer was rejected by the victim.

The food chain’s legislation also raised the question if an additional warning on the sauce temperature would have made any difference. However the jury ruled that the restaurant was responsible for the mishap and the severe burns were caused because the sauce temperature was in excess to the recommended temperatures.

Also Read: Kendrick Lamar ‘Saves TikTok’: Internet Erupts in Humor as Trump Restores App in the US

Manoj Nair

Manoj Nair: With a decade of news writing across various media platforms, Manoj is a seasoned professional. His dual role as an English teacher underscores his command over communication. He adeptly covers Politics, Technology, Crypto, and more, reflecting a broad and insightful perspective that engages and informs diverse audiences.

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