The Dallas Cowboys are being put on the hot seat for literally having one.
Jennelle Carrillo, who lives in Cleburne, is suing the Cowboys and team owner Jerry Jones for the third-degree burns she suffered on her buttocks after sitting on a black, marble bench at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium two years ago while waiting for the debut Blue & Silver scrimmage.Carrillo was hospitalized and had to have skin grafts on her derriere, according to a lawsuit filed in Tarrant County civil court late last week."It was hot enough to produce third-degree burns through her clothing that day," said Mike Wash, the Austin attorney representing Carrillo. "She did not stay for the scrimmage. I'm surprised there aren't more reports of burn injuries from sitting on those dark, black benches."Rich Dalrymple, a spokesman for the Dallas Cowboys, said it is policy not to comment on litigation.Steve Fano, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, said the high temperature on Aug. 10, 2010, the day she was allegedly injured, was 101 degrees. Coincidentally, that August was the ninth-hottest August on record, he said.In her lawsuit, Carrillo contends that Cowboys Stadium officials didn't warn her or others about the dangers of sitting on the uncovered bench in the hot summer sun."No signs were posted at or near the bench warning that it was too hot to sit on nor was the bench roped off to prevent persons from sitting on it," the lawsuit states.Wash said he didn't know how long Carrillo sat on the bench, but when she got up to use the restroom, she discovered her burns. She left the stadium and went to Huguley Memorial Medical Center where she was examined. At first, doctors told her she had first-degree burns.But several days later, Carrillo felt dizzy and was in a lot of pain. She said she returned to Huguley and another doctor told her she had third-degree burns. She was then taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas in an ambulance, where she spent about a week undergoing skin grafts, Wash said.Because of her bench warming experience, Carrillo has suffered mental anguish, physical pain, and disfigurement, according to the suit.Elizabeth Campbell,817-390-7696Twitter: @fwstlizHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
