Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Ibissa Lounge Bar? 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.
Ibissa Lounge Bar is located in Brownsville, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC on a number of occasions due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2018 and 2020, authorities conducted four separate investigations into the bar's alcohol service practices.
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 Ibissa Lounge Bar for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Ibissa Lounge Bar Between 2018 and 2020
Brownsville - 3101 Pablo Kisel Suite 7
Allegations:
On 09/21/2018, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor, an intoxicated person, and during prohibited hours.
Authorities launched an inquiry into the claims soon thereafter. 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. Having neither, investigators decided to wrap up their work on the case on 12/02/2018.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 01/16/2019, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to an underage patron.
An investigation ensued, but was ultimately unsuccessful at proving the allegation. Unable to take any further action, authorities closed the case on 03/30/2019.
A member of the Brownsville community filed a complaint on 12/17/2019, accusing the bar again of selling alcohol to a minor.
As mentioned in the first investigation summary, the TABC relies heavily on video footage to back up most claims of wrongdoing. Since investigators had no such evidence, they decided to close the case on 01/07/2020.
A citizen complaint, filed on 01/17/2020, accused the bar of employing a person under 18 to handle alcohol and of selling alcohol to an underage patron.
Due to a lack of video evidence, the TABC could not determine the veracity of the allegations. Consequently, the case came to a close on 02/18/2020.
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.
