Bexar County jury finds Bill Miller 100% negligent for serving ‘dangerously hot’ BBQ sauce

SAN ANTONIO – Bill Miller Bar-BQ has been ordered to pay approximately $2.8 million in a Bexar County lawsuit for serving “dangerously hot” barbecue sauce, according to the plaintiff’s attorney.

A San Antonio woman is suing Bill Miller Bar-BQ Enterprises for allegedly serving the sauce that gave her second-degree burns, court documents state.

Genesis Monita filed the suit in October 2023 in Bexar County District Court, records show.

In May 2023, Monita and her sister went to the restaurant at Loop 410 and Old Pearsall Road to order breakfast tacos from the drive-thru, according to the plaintiff’s original petition.

She ordered four tacos and barbecue sauce. After Monita paid, the clerk gave her the order in a brown paper bag, the lawsuit said.

Monita drove directly to a space in the restaurant’s parking lot to eat her breakfast, the lawsuit alleged.

“When Monita took the container of bar-b-que sauce, it was so hot that it caused her to drop the container and spill the sauce on her right thigh, causing a second-degree burn,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also stated that Monita’s injuries and damages were caused by the restaurant’s negligence for serving dangerously hot barbecue sauce and failing to warn her that it was hot, among other claims.

Court documents claim Monita suffered physical and mental pain, physical impairment, disfigurement, medical and psychological expenses and lost wages.

KSAT spoke with Lawrence Morales, Monita’s attorney, after the verdict was handed down Friday.

Morales said the same incident happened two years ago at the same restaurant.

“Bill Miller’s policy says they serve the barbecue sauce at 165 degrees. It was served at 189 degrees on the date Monita was burned,” Morales said. “The state says it’s safe to serve at 135 degrees.”

Bill Miller allegedly served the Monita sauce 54 degrees higher than state guidelines.

“How many more people have to be burned by the barbecue sauce before Bill Miller can fix it?” Morales said he asked the jury.

A Bexar County jury found the restaurant 100% negligent for the injuries suffered by Monita on Friday afternoon.

“We feel very pleased with the results of this case,” Morales said. “Genesis just wanted justice.”