At 19 years old, Monita reportedly suffered a second-degree burn from a sauce spill and claimed the restaurant’s sauce was excessively hot without adequate temperature warnings.
The sisters had driven through the restaurant’s area to purchase four breakfast tacos, which they intended to eat parked in the lot.
Monita allegedly picked up a barbecue sauce cup but dropped it—due to its heat—resulting in a spill on her legs that allegedly led to a second-degree burn.
She proceeded to take legal action against the restaurant chain.
The suit claims the sauce was ‘served at 189 degrees’ when Monita visited, causing her to drop the sauce container, spilling it on her right thigh and resulting in a second-degree burn, as reported by KSAT.
The complaint also stated the sauce temperature exceeded the state’s recommended 135 degrees by 54 degrees and that Monita should have been warned about the sauce’s heat.
Bill Miller’s sauce guidelines reportedly mention it being served at 165 degrees. The Express News, cited by Law & Crime, noted attorney Barry McClenahan stating the sauce must be at least 165 degrees for safety.
McClenahan questioned, “At Bill Miller’s, the sauce is always hot, and our customers know that. And that’s why it’s hot. What would we have warned Ms. Monita of that she did not already know?”
The lawsuit stated Monita experienced both physical and mental distress, seeking compensation for lost wages, medical, and psychological costs.
On Friday (January 17), a jury decided in favor of Monita.
Fox 4 News shared that a jury of six people found the restaurant’s actions ‘grossly negligent’ in the accident involving Monita.
The jury has mandated the restaurant chain to pay $2.8 million—$900,000 for pain and suffering, over $25,000 for medical costs, and $1.9 million in punitive damages.
Monita’s attorney, Lawrence Morales, informed KSAT: “We feel very pleased by the results of this case. Genesis just wanted justice.”