Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Buck's West? 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.
Buck's West is a bar located in Jamaica Beach, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted a substantial amount of attention from the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2020, authorities conducted no fewer than six 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 Buck's West for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Buck's West Between 2017 and 2020
Jamaica Beach - 16708 San Luis Pass Road 'E'
Allegations:
On 01/17/2017, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to both a minor and an intoxicated person.
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 03/07/2017.
A member of the Jamaica Beach community reached out to the TABC on 12/11/2017, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to an underage customer.
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 01/28/2018.
The TABC received an anonymous complaint on 01/23/2018, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
Due to a lack of video evidence, investigators could not determine the veracity of the claim. As a result, they could not take any further action, leading to their decision to close the case on 01/24/2018.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 03/14/2018, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to a customer who was already over the limit.
The ensuing investigation was able to confirm the allegation, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After deciding not to hand down any punishment, the TABC closed this case on 05/08/2018.
A citizen complaint, dated 03/25/2019, claimed that staff was drinking on the job, in addition to selling alcohol to a minor, an intoxicated person, and during prohibited hours.
While the investigation that followed did mange to prove that the bar permitted a minor to possess or consume alcohol, the TABC decided not to hand down any punishment. On 05/23/2019, the case ended without any further action.
Law enforcement lodged a TABC complaint on 02/03/2020, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to a drunk patron.
TABC agents conducted an inquiry, but they were ultimately unsuccessful at uncovering any corroborating evidence. Unable to take any further action, investigators decided to conclude their efforts on 04/01/2020.
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.
