Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott? 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.
Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott is located in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2019, authorities conducted four separate investigations into the hotel'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 Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott Between 2017 and 2019
Horseshoe Bay - 200 N Hi Circle
Allegations:
Law enforcement filed a complaint with the TABC on 06/26/2017, alleging that the hotel sold alcohol to a minor.
Authorities looked into the matter shortly thereafter. Even when the source of a complaint is a police officer, 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 07/14/2017.
The TABC received a second law enforcement complaint on 06/15/2018, claiming that the hotel sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
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 07/27/2018.
A third law enforcement complaint reached the TABC on 07/27/2019, accusing staff of drinking on the job and allowing a minor to possess or consume alcohol.
The ensuing investigation was able to prove that staff was drinking on the job, which the TABC classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, authorities closed the case on 08/23/2019.
Yet another law enforcement complaint came on 08/28/2019, claiming that the hotel failed to report a breach of the peace (typically a fight).
TABC agents conducted an inquiry, managing to turn up sufficient evidence to confirm the allegation, which they classified as an administrative violation. After issuing the bar a written warning, authorities concluded their work on the case on 08/28/2019.
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.