Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Round Up Saloon? Take A Moment To Read This First
My firm has been holding reckless bars accountable for irresponsible alcohol service for 30 years. With more cases of this kind behind us than anyone else in the state, we know all too well how frequently bars over-serve alcohol, and the tragic consequences that often result. Most people would be shocked if they knew how often bars are investigated on suspicion of violating state liquor laws. A goal of mine is to increase the public's awareness of the subject. One way I do this is by keeping tabs on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting what I find here on my website. If you think you may have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and are interested in learning about how to proceed, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
Round Up Saloon is a country and western dance club popular with locals in Houston, Texas. In spite of its success, Round Up Saloon has also had some encounters with the authorities for claims of liquor law violations. Between 2016 and 2019, TABC investigated on at least two separate occasions.
In my experience, it is uncommon for a bar without a history of run-ins with the TABC to end up on the hook for contributing to a wrongful death or injury. Virtually every bar I have ever sued was already on the authorities' radar. That's why I pay close attention to bars with several recent complaints against them. The more investigations a bar has had, the greater my concern is that it could one day cause an accident.
I want to emphasize that, when an investigation occurs, it does not mean the bar in question has violated a law. It simply means that authorities felt there was enough evidence to merit closer inspection. Until a court decides otherwise, we must presume every business is innocent. However, if an investigation fails to turn up any evidence of wrongdoing, it does not necessarily mean that a violation didn't occur - just that it couldn't be proven. What follows is a list of TABC investigations into Round Up Saloon in recent years.
TABC Investigations of Round Up Saloon Between 2016 and 2019
Houston - 4601 Alameda Genoa
Allegations:
On 03/29/2016, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with TABC, alleging that this bar served alcohol to a minor and that staff sold drugs.
Authorities followed up with an investigation, but could not corroborate the claims. In these cases, it's almost impossible for TABC to prove wrongdoing without video evidence or an agent present to witness the incident occur. Unable to take further action, investigators closed the case on 05/29/2016.
The next report opened on 06/02/2019, with a member of the Houston community claiming the exact same violations as the previous complaint: sale of alcohol to a minor and staff selling drugs.
Once again, authorities found no evidence of a criminal or administrative violation. Thus, on 10/24/2019, they concluded their efforts and shut the case.
Texas Law Says Accident Victims Can Sue Bad Bars
If you would like to learn more about Texas dram shop law (i.e. lawsuits against bars who play a role in injurious or fatal accidents), please visit our Texas Dram Shop Law Info Page.
