Hi, I’m Orland Howell. I’ve spent four years writing about lawsuit settlements in a way that’s easy to understand. I’ve helped law firms and people share stories like this one, where a small accident became a big court case. My job is to explain tough legal stuff clearly, so you feel informed. In this article, I’ll tell you about the BBQ sauce burn lawsuit in super simple words. We’ll look at what happened, why the jury gave approximately $2.8 million, and what it meant for you as a customer. Let’s get started.
What Was the BBQ Sauce Burn Case About?
Picture this: You grab breakfast from a drive-thru. You park to eat, but when you pick up the sauce, it’s so hot it burns your hand. You drop it, and it spills on your leg, hurting a lot for weeks. This wasn’t just a bad day—it started a huge lawsuit.
On May 19, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas, a 19-year-old woman named Genesis Monita went to Bill Miller Bar-B-Q with her sister. They got breakfast tacos at the restaurant on 8800 Southwest Loop 410, a popular barbecue place. Monita asked for some barbecue sauce. The workers put a small 4-ounce plastic cup of sauce in her bag.
The restaurant had a rule to keep sauce at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to make sure it was safe from germs. But that day, the sauce was 189 degrees—way too hot. Monita parked in the restaurant’s lot to eat. When she grabbed the sauce cup, it burned her hand so much that she dropped it. The hot sauce spilled on her right leg, went through her jeans, and caused a second-degree burn. That’s a bad burn that makes your skin blister and hurt a lot. It even left a scar.
Monita went to a doctor that same day. The burn needed care, but she only saw the doctor once. Still, the pain and scar stayed with her. She felt sad and worried about her leg. This one spill changed her life, so she decided to fight in court.
This story comes from real court papers in Bexar County, Texas. It shows how a tiny mistake at a restaurant can cause big trouble. I’ve written about lots of cases like this, and they often happen when businesses aren’t careful.
Why Did Genesis Monita Sue the Restaurant?
Monita didn’t just forget about the burn. On October 27, 2023, she sued Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises in Bexar County District Court, case number 2023CI23261. Her lawyer, Lawrence Morales II, said the restaurant was careless and didn’t keep her safe.
Here’s what the lawsuit said in easy words:
- The sauce was too hot—189 degrees when it should’ve been 165.
- The plastic cup wasn’t good for holding something that hot. A thicker foam cup would’ve been safer.
- Nobody told Monita to be careful. There was no sticker or warning from the drive-thru saying, “This sauce is really hot.”
- This happened before. In 2021, another woman at the same restaurant burned her stomach with hot sauce. Bill Miller knew but didn’t fix anything.
Monita’s team said restaurants must keep customers safe. Giving out super-hot sauce without a warning was wrong. They asked for money to pay for doctor bills, missed work, pain, sadness, and the scar. They also wanted extra money to punish the restaurant so it wouldn’t happen again.
Bill Miller’s side said it was just an accident. Their lawyer, Barry McClenahan, said they gave out thousands of sauce cups every day with no problems. They followed food safety rules by heating sauce to 165 degrees or more. They also said Monita didn’t go back to the doctor much, so maybe it wasn’t that bad. But the jury didn’t agree.
I’ve written about many cases like this. People like Monita win when they show a business ignored a problem. The 2021 burn at the same place helped prove Bill Miller should’ve done something sooner.
The Trial: Why the Jury Gave Approximately $2.8 Million
The trial happened in early 2025 in Bexar County. A jury of 12 people—six men and six women—heard both sides for a few days.
Monita’s lawyers showed pictures of the burn. It was red, blistered, and looked painful. They had experts who said 189 degrees was too hot to touch safely. Skin burns at 140 degrees in seconds, and 189 degrees hurts right away. They also talked about how burns hurt young people like Monita, who was only 19. The scar and fear of hot food changed her life.
The 2021 burn was a big deal in the trial. Another woman got hurt at the same restaurant, but Bill Miller didn’t use better cups or add warnings. Monita’s lawyer asked, “How many people need to get burned before they fix it?” The jury listened closely.
Bill Miller’s team said the sauce had to be hot to be safe from germs. They said Monita should’ve been more careful and that millions of people got their sauce without getting hurt. But the jury said the restaurant was very careless, called gross negligence.
On January 17, 2025, the jury decided in less than two hours. They said Bill Miller was 100% wrong and gave Monita:
- $25,000 for doctor bills.
- $900,000 for pain, sadness, and life changes.
- $1.9 million to punish Bill Miller.
That added up to $2.8 million. Texas law limits some punishment money, so the final amount was about $1.7 million. The jury was mad at the restaurant’s mistakes.
I’ve seen many trials like this. Juries give big money to send a message. This fast decision showed the story was clear.
What Did the $2.8 Million Pay For?
The approximately $2.8 million wasn’t just a random number. It covered real problems. Here’s what each part was for:
- Doctor Bills ($25,000): This paid for Monita’s doctor visit, bandages, and any future care for her scar. Second-degree burns need special care to heal right.
- Pain and Sadness ($900,000): This was for the pain Monita felt, the stress of being scared of hot food, and feeling bad about her scar. She couldn’t wear shorts or move easily for a while. This covered her past and future struggles.
- Punishment ($1.9 million): This was to make Bill Miller think twice. They knew about the 2021 burn but didn’t change anything. This money pushed them to be safer.
Texas law cut the punishment money, so the total was about $1.7 million plus some extra. It was still a lot for Monita.
Burns are serious. Second-degree burns hurt deep in the skin, can get infected, and leave scars forever. Juries often give big money for pain like this, and $900,000 was normal for cases I’ve studied.
How This Case Was Like the McDonald’s Coffee Case
You might think, “This sounds like that McDonald’s coffee case.” You’re right—it was similar. Let’s look at both in simple words.
In 1992, a 79-year-old woman named Stella Liebeck got coffee from McDonald’s in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The coffee was 190 degrees, hot enough to really hurt. She put it between her legs to add cream, and it spilled, causing third-degree burns on her legs and groin. She was in the hospital for eight days and needed skin grafts.
McDonald’s knew about 700 other burn cases but kept the coffee super hot. Stella asked for $20,000 for her bills, but McDonald’s offered only $800. She sued and won $160,000 for pain and $480,000 to punish McDonald’s, totaling $640,000 after cuts.
How it’s like the BBQ sauce case:
- Both happened in or near cars.
- Both were super hot: 190 degrees for coffee, 189 for sauce.
- Both caused bad burns: third-degree for coffee, second-degree for sauce.
- Both businesses knew about earlier problems: 700 for McDonald’s, one for Bill Miller.
- Both got big punishment money: $2.7 million (cut down) for coffee, $1.9 million for sauce.
The difference? Coffee is for drinking, but sauce is for holding. Still, both cases showed businesses must warn people or make things less hot.
People laughed at the coffee case, but it made McDonald’s use better lids and cooler coffee. This sauce case did something similar.
How This Verdict Helped Customers
The approximately $2.8 million win changed things for people who eat at restaurants. Here’s how it helped:
- Better Warnings: By February 2025, Bill Miller put “Caution: Contents Hot” stickers on menus and bags. Other restaurants started doing this too, so you’d see warnings on hot food.
- Safer Cups: Plastic cups let heat out too fast. Foam cups were better for hot stuff. Some restaurants switched to these, making food safer to hold.
- New Rules: Health rules said food needed to be 135-165 degrees to stop germs, but this case showed sauces could be too hot. Lawmakers thought about adding burn safety rules.
- Helping Hurt People: Monita’s win showed you could sue if a restaurant’s mistake hurt you. In Texas, you had two years to file a case, so you had to act fast.
- Making Restaurants Listen: The jury’s decision made restaurants pay attention to complaints. The 2021 burn was ignored, but this verdict pushed businesses to fix problems quicker.
This meant safer meals for you. To stay safe, check bags before driving and use napkins for hot stuff. The verdict made restaurants care more about your safety.
What Happened After the Verdict?
After the January 17, 2025, decision, Bill Miller didn’t appeal. They paid about $1.7 million after Texas law cut some money. They acted fast, adding warning stickers by February 2025 and teaching workers to be safer.
But another lawsuit came up. On April 22, 2025, a woman named Angelica Ochoa sued Bill Miller. On October 25, 2023, at their O’Connor and 1604 location, hot sauce burned her through ripped jeans. She had the same lawyers as Monita and said the same things: too hot, no warning, bad cup.
This new case showed the verdict made a difference. More people spoke up, and Bill Miller got more attention. I’ve seen big wins like this make companies settle fast or change how they work everywhere.
Tips for Customers: Stay Safe and Know Your Rights
This case taught us a lot. Restaurants must be careful, but you can help yourself too. If you get hurt:
- Go to a doctor right away and write down the date and place.
- Take pictures of the injury and the food.
- Tell the restaurant manager and write it down.
- Talk to a lawyer soon. Many give free advice.
Texas law helps people hurt by careless businesses. Monita’s win showed juries care about customers. I’ve explained lots of cases like this, and they make things safer for everyone.
Final Thoughts
The BBQ sauce burn lawsuit showed one accident could change a lot. Genesis Monita’s approximately $2.8 million win made Bill Miller take responsibility and helped make restaurants safer. It was a big win for customers.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal, medical, or professional advice. It is based on public court records and news reports available before September 29, 2025. Orland Howell makes no guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not liable for any errors or damages from its use. Consult a qualified attorney for advice on your situation. Any actions based on this article are at your own risk.
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Orland Howell is a seasoned content writer with four years of deep expertise in crafting compelling and informative content about lawsuit settlements. With a keen understanding of legal nuances and a talent for translating complex topics into clear, engaging narratives, Orland helps law firms, legal professionals, and clients communicate effectively. His work spans blog posts, articles, whitepapers, and website content, all designed to educate, inform, and drive results. Passionate about empowering audiences with knowledge, Orland combines precision, creativity, and industry insight to deliver content that resonates and builds trust.
