Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Bailey's Shed? Here's What You Need To Know
For three decades, I've been holding bars accountable for over-serving alcohol. In the hundreds of cases I've handled, I've seen just how widespread irresponsible alcohol service is, as well as the tragedies that often follow in its wake. While people might see or hear about drunk driving accidents from time to time, rarely do they hear about the role that reckless bars play in those accidents. In order to draw more attention to this issue, I dedicate a portion of my time to investigating the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting my findings here on my website. If you believe you may have a dram shop claim, please call my office at (855) 326-0000.
Bailey's Shed is a bar located in Amarillo, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2016 and 2019, authorities conducted no fewer than five investigations into the bar's alcohol service practices.
In my experience, it's 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 contribute to 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 Bailey's Shed for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Bailey's Shed Between 2016 and 2019
Amarillo - 7101 Bell Street
Allegations:
On 04/12/2016, law enforcement contacted the TABC, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to an intoxicated customer.
Upon investigation, authorities found sufficient evidence to confirm the allegation, which they classified as an administrative violation. After issuing the bar a written warning, the TABC closed the case on 07/13/2016.
A second law enforcement complaint, placed on 04/13/2016, again alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk person.
Authorities looked into the matter shortly thereafter. Even when the source of a complaint is a police officer, 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 in this investigation, authorities decided to close the case on 07/01/2016.
The TABC received a third law enforcement complaint on 08/12/2016, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
As mentioned in the previous investigation summary, the TABC relies heavily on video footage to back up most claims of wrongdoing. Since authorities had no such evidence in this investigation, they could not take any action, leading to their decision to close the case on 08/18/2016.
On 10/27/2016, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
TABC agents conducted an inquiry, but due to a lack of video evidence, they could not determine the veracity of the claim. As a result, investigators could not take any further action, leading to their decision to close the case on 12/05/2016.
A citizen complaint, filed on 07/23/2019, alleged that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
The case remained open for nearly two months, but authorities were ultimately unable to find sufficient evidence to support the allegation. On 09/19/2019, the TABC closed 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.
