Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Barstruck Lounge? 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.
Barstruck Lounge is located in Troy, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC on multiple occasions 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 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 Barstruck Lounge for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Barstruck Lounge Between 2016 and 2019
Troy - 315 N Central
Allegations:
On 01/05/2016, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that staff was drinking on the job, allowed the possession of drugs on the premises, and sold alcohol to an intoxicated person. The first allegation is more serious than it might appear on the surface. Staff has an obligation to stop serving alcohol to patrons who exhibit signs of being dangerously intoxicated. If staff is drinking, its ability to judge when to cut off service is impaired.
Authorities looked into the matter shortly 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 in this investigation, authorities decided to close the case on 02/24/2016.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 03/11/2016, claiming 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 - even when the source of a complaint is a police officer. As authorities had no such evidence, they could not take any further action. Consequently, they closed the case on 04/30/2016.
A member of the Troy community filed a complaint with the TABC on 07/28/2016, alleging that staff was drinking on the job.
Due to a lack of video evidence, investigators could not determine the veracity of the claim. With no other course of action available, they decided to close the case on 09/16/2016.
On 11/08/2016, a citizen complaint alleged that staff sold drugs and allowed gambling on the premises.
As in all of the previous investigations, authorities did not have access to any corroborating evidence. Unable to proceed, the TABC concluded its work on 12/29/2016.
A citizen complaint, filed on 05/28/2019, claimed that the bar allowed gambling on the premises.
Once again, authorities looked into the matter, but they could not find any hard evidence of a criminal or administrative violation. As a result, the investigation came to an end on 07/09/2019.
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.
