You’ve probably heard the jokes about the McDonald’s coffee case from the nineties. People called it a "get rich quick" scheme until they actually saw the photos of the third-degree burns. Well, history sort of repeated itself in San Antonio recently, but this time, the culprit wasn't coffee. It was barbecue sauce.
Specifically, a massive legal battle involving the legendary Texas chain Bill Miller Bar-B-Q lawsuit has been making waves across the state. In January 2025, a Bexar County jury dropped a bombshell: a $2.8 million verdict against the company. Since then, the legal drama hasn't really slowed down. Two more million-dollar lawsuits have hit the docket, including one involving a four-year-old boy.
It’s the kind of story that makes you double-check your to-go bag before pulling out of the drive-thru.
The Case That Started the Firestorm
Basically, it all centers on Genesis Monita. Back in May 2023, she was an 18-year-old high school senior heading to class with her sister. They stopped at the Bill Miller on Old Pearsall Road for breakfast tacos. You know the drill—grab the bag, park in the lot, and try to eat before the first bell rings.
The "accident" happened in a flash. Monita reached for a 4-ounce plastic cup of the chain’s signature barbecue sauce. It was so hot that the heat allegedly transferred through the plastic instantly. She dropped it. The sauce spilled onto her right thigh.
Now, we aren't talking about "ouch, that's warm" hot. We are talking about 189°F.
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To put that in perspective, the state safety guidelines for serving hot food usually hover around 135°F. Bill Miller’s own internal manual suggested a service temperature of 165°F. Serving it at 189°F meant it was nearly 25 degrees hotter than their own policy and 54 degrees above state safety marks.
The result? Second-degree burns and permanent scarring.
Why the Jury Went So Big
A lot of people hear "$2.8 million for a spill" and roll their eyes. But the jury saw something different. During the trial, Monita’s attorney, Lawrence Morales II, pointed out a few key things:
- The sauce was served in a thin plastic cup instead of the insulated Styrofoam the company policy supposedly required.
- There were no warning labels on the bag or the menu at the time.
- The restaurant allegedly knew the sauce was being served at these temperatures but didn't change the protocol.
The jury awarded $900,000 for pain and suffering and a massive $1.9 million in punitive damages. Those "punitive" dollars are meant to be a slap on the wrist to make sure a company changes its ways. Honestly, it worked—at least on the surface. Within weeks, Bill Miller started slapping bright yellow "CAUTION: CONTENTS ARE HOT" stickers on everything from drive-thru menus to paper bags.
It Didn't Stop There: The Third Lawsuit
If the Monita case was a wake-up call, the subsequent lawsuits suggest the alarm is still ringing. In April 2025, Angelica Ochoa filed a $1 million suit claiming the sauce she received was so hot it actually melted a portion of her jeans.
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Then came the one that really grabbed headlines in June 2025.
Rose Roque filed a lawsuit on behalf of her four-year-old son. According to the filing, the boy and his grandfather were at a Northwest Side location in May 2024. An employee allegedly placed an uncovered container of sauce on a tray at "child level." The sauce spilled on the boy’s face, causing second-degree burns.
Lawyers for the family, Dan Sciano and Aaron Valadez, have been vocal about the restaurant's refusal to release surveillance video of the incident. It's a messy situation. You've got a recovering child with facial scarring and a brand that is struggling to shake the "dangerously hot" label.
The Business Fallout
From a business perspective, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is in a tough spot. They are a San Antonio institution. People love their sweet tea and chopped BBQ. But these legal hits are cumulative.
The defense’s argument has mostly been about personal responsibility. Their lawyer, Barry McClenahan, told the court that the sauce is supposed to be hot—that’s why people buy it. He argued that customers should know the risks of handling hot food.
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However, when a jury hears that the sauce is 189 degrees, the "common sense" argument starts to crumble. At that temperature, skin damage happens almost instantly.
What’s Changed Since the Verdict?
If you walk into a Bill Miller today, you’ll see the changes. The yellow stickers are everywhere.
- Menu Warnings: Large bold text on the menus.
- Packaging: More consistent use of insulated containers.
- Temperature Checks: Rumors of stricter internal auditing on sauce vats.
Actionable Insights for the Average Diner
While the Bill Miller Bar-B-Q lawsuit plays out in the courts, there are some very real takeaways for anyone who frequents drive-thrus:
- Check the Container: If you are served a hot liquid in a thin, clear plastic cup, don't grab it by the sides. Use a napkin or hold it by the rim.
- Park Before Opening: Most of these incidents happen while the car is in motion or while the customer is juggling items in their lap.
- Know the Temps: If food feels unusually hot through the bag, it probably is. Give it a minute to vent before handing it to a child.
- Documentation is Key: In every one of these lawsuits, the medical records and immediate photos of the burns were the deciding factor. If you are injured at a business, go to the doctor immediately.
The legal saga isn't over. With multiple million-dollar cases still pending as we move through 2026, the barbecue giant is likely looking at more than just a few stickers to fix their reputation. They have to prove they can keep the sauce delicious without making it a safety hazard.
For now, just be careful with that side of BBQ sauce. It might be hotter than the pit it came from.