Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Tin Barn? 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.
Tin Barn is a bar located in Silsbee, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted a substantial amount of attention from the TABC due to a number of allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2019, authorities conducted four separate investigations into alcohol service practices at Tin Barn.
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, 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 Tin Barn for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Tin Barn Between 2017 and 2019
Silsbee - 4333 Old Evadale Road
Allegations:
On 03/22/2017, the TABC received a complaint from a concerned citizen, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
Authorities followed up soon after 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 04/07/2017.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 05/24/2017, alleging that the bar failed to report a breach of the peace (typically a fight).
The ensuing investigation uncovered corroborating evidence of an administrative violation, for which authorities handed down an unspecified penalty. On 05/26/2017, the case concluded.
A second law enforcement complaint arrived on 07/13/2018, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to an intoxicated person.
Due to a lack of video evidence, the TABC could not establish the veracity of the claim. Unable to take any further action, authorities closed the case on 08/18/2018.
Yet another complaint from law enforcement came on 02/06/2019. This time, the allegations were for selling alcohol to a minor and a drunk patron.
As in most of the previous investigations, authorities did not have sufficient evidence to take any action and so they concluded their efforts on 02/26/2019.
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.
