‘His body was being burnt’: Passenger sues Frontier after scalding tea spills onto his groin during flight, causing 3rd-degree burns

A Pennsylvania man is suing Frontier Airlines after he says he was served an “excessively” hot cup of tea without a lid that spilled through his pants and burned his genitalia.

Sean Miller, 56, got burned by his tea during a Sept. 20 flight from Myrtle Beach to Philadelphia, he alleges in his lawsuit filed on Sunday in a federal court in Pennsylvania.

“Unfortunately, the tea was provided to my client without a lid, filled to the absolute brim of the cup and at an excessively and unreasonably high temperature,” said his lawyer, Adam S. Barrist, in a statement emailed to Law&Crime. “The tea spilled directly through Mr. Miller’s clothing, onto his genitalia. Due to the tightly-situated plane seat configuration, Mr. Miller was unable to get up from his seat after the spill and, instead, was trapped in agonizing pain while his body was being burnt.”

Miller was met on the ground in Philadelphia by an ambulance and was taken to a hospital before being transferred to a burn center for continued care, according to court documents.

Miller suffered third-degree burns and has been left with disfiguring scars on his penis, testicles and thighs, court documents said.

“Despite multiple letters sent to Frontier Airlines via FedEx overnight courier, I have received no communication, of any kind, back from Frontier Airlines, concerning, among other issues, the payment of my client’s past medical bills and payment for his ongoing treatment,” Barrist said in his statement. “It was, therefore, necessary to institute suit right away.”

A Frontier spokesperson told Law&Crime that the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit, which seeks more than $150,000 for medical expenses, alleges Miller suffered painful and serious permanent injuries, including disfiguring scars, highly unsightly and embarrassing discoloration on his penis, scrotum, testicles and thighs, and significantly decreased sensation in his penis.

The Philadelphia warehouse worker also suffers from sexual dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, other psychological maladies, embarrassment, lack of self-esteem, and nerve damage throughout his body, according to court documents.

“As a further result of such accident, Mr. Miller has suffered and will continue to suffer a loss of life’s pleasures,” the lawsuit said.

Frontier, “by offering hot beverages to passengers on its airplanes, had a duty to Mr. Miller to provide his requested hot beverage to him in a safe manner that would not subject him to potential injury and disfigurement,” the lawsuit said.

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