Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Casey's Pub & Grill? 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.
Casey's Pub & Grill is located in Magnolia, 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 four separate investigations into the pub'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 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 Casey's Pub & Grill for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Casey's Pub& Grill Between 2016 and 2019
Magnolia - 9201 Fm 1488
Allegations:
On 10/25/2016, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the pub sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
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 12/11/2016.
A member of the Magnolia community reached out to the TABC on 10/13/2017, claiming that the pub sold alcohol to an intoxicated person, in addition to allowing customers to purchase and consume alcohol during prohibited hours.
Upon investigation, authorities found sufficient evidence to support the allegation that the pub allowed customers to drink during prohibited hours, which they classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified punishment, the TABC closed the case on 11/05/2017.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 11/10/2017, accusing the pub of selling alcohol to an intoxicated person.
As mentioned in the first 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 12/21/2017.
On 05/24/2019, a citizen complaint brought the TABC back to investigate allegations that the pub permitted the possession of drugs on the premises and that staff was drinking on the job.
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 08/05/2019.
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.
