Considering A Dram Shop Case Against G G Steaks & Spirits? Here's What You Need To Know
I've been suing irresponsible bars for over-serving alcohol for 30 years. My experience handling hundreds of cases has repeatedly shown me just how many bars fail to follow alcohol service regulations, as well as the tragedies that all too often result. While people might see or hear about a drunk driving accident from time to time, they don't tend to hear about the role that reckless bars play in those accidents. In order to call more attention to this issue, I dedicate a portion of my time to reviewing the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting my findings here on my website. If you think you may have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and have questions about how to proceed, don't hesitate to call me at (855) 326-0000.
G G Steak & Spirits is a restaurant located in Gonzales, Texas. Known for being a farm-to-table style restaurant, all of the food and wine it serves is produced within the state's borders. While it has earned the praise of local diners with the quality of its ingredients, it has also managed to attract the attention of the TABC on a number of occasions recently, due to allegations of liquor law violations. Over just a two-year period, authorities conducted three investigations into alcohol service practices at G G Steak & Spirits.
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.
Note: Investigations are not proof of wrongdoing. However, if authorities investigate and fail to find evidence of a violation, it doesn't necessarily mean an establishment is innocent, either. The purpose of this article is simply to relay publicly-available information about incidents where the TABC has investigated G G Steak & Spirits for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of G G Steak & Spirits Between 2017 and 2019
Gonzales - 216 Middlebuster Road
Allegations:
On 03/07/2017, the TABC received a complaint from a concerned citizen who alleged that the bar served alcohol to a minor.
Authorities followed up soon thereafter with an investigation. For most liquor law violations, the TABC requires either video footage of the incident or eyewitness testimony from one of its agents in order to take action. In this particular instance, authorities had neither. As a result, the case came to a close on 05/04/2017.
Law enforcement reached out to the TABC on 04/05/2019, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated patron.
The ensuing investigation did not uncover any hard evidence of a criminal or administrative violation. Even though the source of the complaint was a police officer, the TABC still requires video footage before it can take any action. Consequently, authorities decided to shut this case on 05/24/2019.
A further law enforcement complaint, filed on 10/31/2019, again accused the bar of selling alcohol to a drunk person.
Though authorities worked on the case for a month and a half, they failed to turn up any proof that a violation took place. Unable to take any further action, they wrapped up their work on this case on 12/18/2019.
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.
