Clay County jury rules in mixed liability fryer burn case

A jury partially sided with the plaintiff in a personal injury case involving negligence in the workplace.

A $100,000 verdict was reached by a Clay County Circuit Court jury Nov. 5. The jury found the plaintiff 75 percent at fault. The verdict stems from a lawsuit filed by the plaintiff, Bryan Stotts, for the severe burns he suffered when hot oil spilled on him from a fryer at a Qdoba restaurant.

The plaintiff initially requested $800,000 from the jury for the injuries that occurred when a fryer that was missing a rear wheel and propped up by a pan unseen by Stotts tipped and spilled hot oil on him. Stotts was working for the Waldinger Corporation, who had been hired by defendant No. 1 Repair and Maintenance to perform service work at the Qdoba restaurant.

The plaintiff also claimed that one of the defendant’s cooks bumped into the fryer, causing it to come off the pan and spill the oil. The defendant alleged Stotts failed to check the oil temperature before working. He ultimately suffered second and third degree burns to his left arm and torso, resulting in reduced grip strength, range of motion, heat sensitivity and discomfort.

Stotts was represented by lead attorney Douglass F. Noland of the Noland Law Firm in Kansas City, along with Kate E. Noland. The defendants were represented by Corey L. Kraushaar, along with James Smart, of Brown & James in St. Louis. The case was tried before Judge Timothy Flook.

Stotts initially requested $800,000 from the jury. The jury returned a verdict for Qdoba on the negligence claim, and a plaintiff verdict for $400,000 on the premises liability claim before fault. It resulted in a net verdict of $100,00 before set-off from defendant No. 1 Repair’s settlement with the plaintiff.

Counsel had no additional comments.

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Negligence and premises liability

Amount of verdict: $100,000

Allocation of fault: 75 percent against the plaintiff

Breakdown and distribution of total value: Plaintiff requested $800,000 from the jury. Jury verdict for defendant on the negligence claim. Jury verdict for plaintiff in the amount of $400,000 on the premises liability claim before fault. Net verdict of $100,000 before set-off from co-defendant settlement with plaintiff

Type of action: Negligence and premises liability

Venue: Clay County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 23CY-CV10855, 11/05/2025

Caption: Bryan K Stotts v. Qdoba Restaurant Corp. d/b/a Qdoba Mexican Eats, and Number 1 Repair and Maintenance, LLC

Injuries alleged: Dermatological (burns, cuts, other external)

Injuries detail: Second and third degree burns to plaintiff’s left arm and torso, reduced grip strength and range of motion, sensitivity to heat, discomfort

Last pretrial demand: $250,000

Last pretrial offer: $60,000

Plaintiff’s attorneys: Douglass F. Noland and Kate E. Noland of the Noland Law Firm in Kansas City

Defendant’s attorneys: Corey L. Kraushaar and James Smart of Brown & James in St. Louis

Plaintiff expert(s): Dr. Daniel D. Zimmerman, a physician in Westwood, Kansas