Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Dalton's Corner Bar & 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.
Dalton's Corner Bar & Grill is located in Burleson, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted a significant amount of attention from the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2018 and 2019 alone, authorities conducted no fewer than seven 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 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 Dalton's Corner Bar & Grill for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Dalton's Corner Bar & Grill Between 2018 and 2019
Burleson - 200 S Main Street
Allegations:
The TABC received an anonymous complaint on 02/20/2018 that alleged the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
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 04/06/2018.
A second anonymous complaint, filed on 05/25/2018, accused staff of drinking on the job, permitting the possession of drugs on the premises, selling alcohol to an intoxicated person, allowing customers to drink during prohibited hours, and alleged that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) occurred.
While authorities did not manage to find any evidence to prove the initial violations, they did uncover proof of other 'miscellaneous administrative violations'. After deciding not to hand down any punishment, the TABC decided to close the case on 07/23/2018.
On 06/21/2018, a member of the Burleson community reached out to the TABC and alleged that a breach of the peace took place.
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 08/10/2018.
A second anonymous complaint, filed on 11/15/2018, accused staff of drinking on the job and selling alcohol to both a minor and a drunk patron.
The TABC looked into the matter, and while investigators did not find any evidence to support the claims, they did find proof that the bar failed to report a breach of the peace, which they classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, they closed the case on 01/09/2019.
The next citizen complaint reached the TABC on 01/15/2019, claiming that staff was drinking on the job and sold alcohol to a minor and an intoxicated person.
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 02/28/2019.
On 09/17/2019, a citizen complaint led the TABC back to investigate once again. This time, the allegations were that staff was drinking on the job and sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
An investigation ensued, but ultimately, authorities were unable to produce any evidence to support the allegations. Left with no other course of action, the TABC decided to close the case on 11/14/2019.
Yet another citizen complaint came on 11/14/2019, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor, an intoxicated patron, and that staff was drinking on the job.
Much like in the previous investigation, authorities could not take any action for lack of corroborating evidence. As a result, they had no choice but to close the case, which they did on 12/20/2019.
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.
