Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Dylan's 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.
Dylan's Bar & Grill is located in Port Arthur, Texas. With a full bar, American cuisine, and live music in the evenings, it has established a strong local following. However, in recent years, the TABC has also come knocking on multiple occasions due to complaints alleging liquor law violations. Between 2015 and 2020, authorities conducted four separate investigations into alcohol service practices at Dylan's Bar & Grill.
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 Dylan's Bar & Grill for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Dylan's Bar & Grill
Port Arthur - 8601 9th Avenue
Allegations:
On 07/09/2015, the TABC received a complaint from a concerned citizen who alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a minor and that a staff member was drinking on the job. The second allegation is more serious than it might appear on the surface. Staff has a legal obligation to stop serving alcohol to patrons who exhibit signs of being dangerously intoxicated. If staff itself is intoxicated, its ability to judge when to stop serving is impaired.
Authorities followed up soon after with an investigation. 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. In this particular instance, authorities had neither. As a result, the case came to a close on 09/09/2015.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 08/01/2018, charging the bar with selling alcohol to an intoxicated customer.
TABC agents conducted an inquiry into the matter, but were unable to turn up any hard proof of a violation. With no other course of action available, they decided to close the case on 09/11/2018.
A staff member filed a complaint with the TABC on 07/26/2019, claiming a breach of the peace (typically a fight) occurred, and that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk person.
After well over a month of investigation, authorities could not locate any evidence of a violation. Consequently, they decided to end their work on the case on 09/06/2019.
On 01/15/2020, an unnamed source reached out to the TABC and claimed that the bar sold alcohol to an inebriated patron.
The ensuing investigation failed to uncover any corroborating evidence. Unable to take any further action, authorities shut the case on 02/24/2020.
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.
