Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Beer Garden? Here's What You Need To Know
My firm has sued more bars for liquor law violations than any other in Texas. In my over 30 years of experience, I have repeatedly seen just how serious the consequences can be when bars over-serve alcohol. While the public might see or hear about a drunk driving accident from time to time, it's much less common to hear about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. One of my goals is to raise awareness about the extent of this problem. To this end, I dedicate some of my time to investigating Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission complaint records and reporting what I find here on my website. If you think you might have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and would like to learn about how to proceed, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
Beer Garden is a bar located in Temple, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC 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'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 Beer Garden for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Beer Garden Between 2018 and 2020
Temple - 1119 S 55Th Street
Allegations:
On 01/30/2018, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that staff was drinking on the job and sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
Upon investigation, authorities were able to confirm the first of the two allegations, which they classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC closed the case on 03/03/2018.
A member of the Temple community reached out to the TABC on 06/06/2019, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to both a minor and an intoxicated person, in addition to allowing staff to possess or sell drugs on the premises.
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 07/13/2019.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 02/12/2020, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
The ensuing investigation was able to find sufficient evidence to corroborate the claim, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After deciding not to hand down any punishment, the TABC concluded its work on the case on 03/25/2020.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 06/22/2020, claiming that the bar permitted the possession or sale of drugs on the premises and that staff possessed or sold drugs.
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 07/15/2020.
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.
