Two Dallas women are seeking $1 million in damages from Taco Bell after a store manager doused them with boiling water, causing permanent skin damage and a lifelong change in their appearance, according to a new lawsuit.
The lawsuit names the plaintiffs as Brittany Davis and her niece, who is identified in documents only as CT, 16.
A section of the lawsuit states that CT’s facial injuries are so severe that her mother, Kira, removed all mirrors from her home because her daughter cannot bear to see her own face.
The incident happened on June 17 at the Taco Bell location on Block 11800 of Abrams Road, just off Interstate 635, in northeast Dallas.
The lawsuit was filed on July 13. The pair are being represented in the lawsuit by top civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Paul Grinke.
Video from the June 17 incident shows an employee on the phone while filling the bucket
Brittany Davis is shown here discussing her meal order with a member of staff
Videos show steam rising from the water after being hurled at Davis and her niece
After the water is thrown, the video shows the two women running towards the exit
The video shows an employee on the phone filling a bucket of water in the restaurant’s kitchen. She walks from the kitchen to the counter area, where she apparently throws the water at the two women.
The clerk then marches back into the kitchen and refills the bucket before pouring more water on the two.
Crump said in a statement that Davis and her niece were locked in by employees at the restaurant while trying to resolve an issue with the order. The couple say they received the wrong order three times and complained. The order was worth $30.
The plaintiffs were walking through the drive-through when the argument started, but Davis walked in with her niece after the order came back wrong.
Once inside, they claim that an employee challenged the minor to a fight.
The manager was not involved in the original discussions, which had lasted around 10 minutes. According to documents, she was only involved when she wanted to get the boiling water.
The incident happened at this Taco Bell location on Block 11800 of Abrams Road, just off Interstate 635, in northeast Dallas
The two women wondered why the staff couldn’t just go back and prepare the meal they paid for. The employees refused and became combative,” the lawsuit says.
Davis and her niece were both hit in the face and chest, with the water soaking into their clothing. They tried to leave the restaurant but were locked in.
The manager went back to get more water, but the couple managed to escape to their car where family members were waiting and were not hit a second time. They then managed to unlock the door.
“As this family exited the parking lot, a Taco Bell employee came to the front door and laughed, clapped and taunted the family,” the lawsuit reads. “The burns on her face will cause discoloration and scarring that will forever tarnish her self-image.”
Another section of the filing reads: “Brittany and CT not only suffered physical trauma from the burns, but they will now live with the psychological trauma that comes with such an attack.
“The Taco Bell store manager violently and without warning poured a bucket of boiling water over CT and Brittany’s heads, shoulders, breasts and legs, causing excruciating second and third degree burns on their bodies.”
Crump claims one of the employees carried a gun under his shirt. One of the employees claims to have been attacked by one of the victims.
Paul Grinke, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, told NBC News, “It’s hard to imagine a scenario where it would be okay to pour boiling water over a minor.”
As the two victims were rushed to the hospital, Davis suffered a seizure and was later helicoptered to a specialized burn unit. Lawyers say Davis suffered a total of 10 seizures as a result of the incident, causing “substantial” brain injuries.
“Our hearts break for these two victims whose lives were forever changed because of the horrific and damaging actions of the Taco Bell exec and the larger corporations that failed to protect (them),” said attorney Ben Crump.
Taco Bell responded, saying, “We take the safety and well-being of team members and customers seriously. Taco Bell is in contact with the franchisee and operator of this restaurant regarding this matter.’
Two employees, Taco Bell’s parent company, Yum! Brands and Taco Bell Restaurant #22872 are named in the lawsuit.
No criminal arrests were made, but the case was referred to a grand jury by the Dallas Police Department.