BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is facing a third lawsuit for serving “dangerously hot” barbecue sauce that caused injuries to a customer, according to court records.
Rose Roque of Bexar County filed the lawsuit on Thursday against Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises on behalf of her 4-year-old son, who allegedly suffered second-degree burns from spilled barbecue sauce.
On May 30, 2024, the child and his grandfather visited the restaurant at Loop 410 and Culebra Road on the Northwest Side.
While the two were waiting in the food line, the lawsuit alleges that an employee placed an uncovered container with “dangerously hot barbeque sauce” on the grandfather’s tray.
The sauce then spilled on the child, including his face, which caused second-degree burns, according to the lawsuit.
KSAT spoke with Roque’s lawyers, Dan Sciano and Aaron Valadez, on Monday evening. They said there is surveillance video of the incident that the restaurant has refused to disclose.
“I assume what happened is a child did what children do,” Sciano said. “They reached up at the tray, I assume, and again, I don’t know yet because they won’t provide us the video, and you think of the insanity of that. Why wouldn’t you supply that information if you’ve asked for it?”
Sciano said Bill Miller Bar-B-Q wouldn’t say how hot the barbeque sauce was the day of the incident.
“Placing unreasonably dangerous heated objects at child level not to expect a child to do a childish thing is just ridiculous,” Sciano said. “There’s no excuse for it.”
Valadez said the child is still recovering from his injuries and they are seeing permanent scarring to the child’s face.
“Their only reasonable choice at this point is fix the problem, and I have no rational explanation for why it’s not been fixed,” Sciano said.
Roque is seeking $1 million for injuries and damages, including physical impairment and medical care expenses.
In January, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q was ordered to pay approximately $2.8 million in a Bexar County lawsuit for serving “dangerously hot” barbecue sauce.
Following the January lawsuit, the company was ordered to add warning labels to menus and takeout bags, which read “CAUTION: CONTENTS ARE HOT” in bold black lettering on a yellow background.
Last month, another Bexar County woman filed a $1 million lawsuit against the company for serving “dangerously hot barbeque sauce” that melted a portion of her jeans, the lawsuit alleges.
“It’s easy to fix that,” Sciano said. “Lower the temperature and provide proper containers.”
KSAT reached out to Bill Miller Bar-B-Q for comment. This article will be updated if and when a response is received.
Read more:
Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
