The Dallas Cowboys are being put on the hot seat for having one.
Jennelle Carrillo, who lives in Cleburne, is suing the Cowboys and team owner Jerry Jones over third-degree burns she suffered on her buttocks after sitting on a black marble bench at Cowboys Stadium two years ago while waiting for the debut Blue & Silver scrimmage.Carrillo was hospitalized and had to have skin grafts, according to a lawsuit filed in a 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 Aug. 10, 2010, the day she was allegedly injured, was 101 degrees. Coincidentally, that August was the ninth-hottest August on record, he said.Carrillo's lawsuit says 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.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 taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, where she spent about a week undergoing skin grafts, Wash said.Her lawsuit says Carrillo has suffered mental anguish, physical pain and disfigurement.Elizabeth Campbell, 817-390-7696Twitter: @fwstlizHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
