Lake Tahoe ski resort burned a 5-year-old with hot chocolate

Lawsuit Against South Lake Tahoe Ski Resort Following Injury to Young Girl

A luxury ski resort in South Lake Tahoe is facing legal action after a 5-year-old girl sustained serious burns due to an employee’s actions involving hot chocolate.

Brittany Burns and Joshua Moran Burns filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court last year against Heavenly Mountain Resort, claiming negligence in the incident. They are seeking compensation for medical costs and emotional distress, as detailed in court records.

The family took their daughter to the resort to enjoy skiing two years ago, but instead, she ended up with burns and scars, said the family’s attorney, Roger Dreyer, in a report.

“She suffered severe burns to her chest and abdomen,” Dreyer stated. “Now she has an indelible scar.”

The allegation arises from the family’s experience when they ordered hot chocolate at the Skydeck Cafe during a break from skiing. The complaint suggests that the cashier, in an inattentive manner, handed the drink—topped with whipped cream—over the counter, which led to the girl being burned.

As the child attempted to grab the drink, it turned out to be “overly and unnecessarily hot.” Unfortunately, she ended up spilling it on herself, resulting in burns on her ski suit and skin.

The lawsuit asserts that the resort should have recognized the risks associated with serving hot drinks and that such situations could lead to injuries like burns.

This case echoes similar high-profile incidents involving heated beverages. For instance, in the previous year, Starbucks reached a $50 million settlement with a man who was burned after spilling hot tea on himself at a drive-thru.