Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Juba Pizza Bar? 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.
Juba Pizza Bar is located in Bonham, 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 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 Juba Pizza Bar for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Juba Pizza Bar Between 2017 and 2019
Bonham - 328 W Sam Rayburn Drive
Allegations:
On 10/10/2017, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person and failed to report a breach of the peace (typically a fight).
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 12/02/2017.
A member of the Bonham community reached out to the TABC on 01/10/2018 and accused the bar of selling alcohol to a minor.
Upon investigation, authorities were able to confirm the allegation, which they classified as both a criminal and administrative violation. After deciding not to hand down any punishment, authorities closed the case on 01/27/2018.
The TABC received a complaint from a concerned citizen on 02/05/2018, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to an underage patron.
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 03/25/2018.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 05/29/2018, claiming staff was drinking on the job and sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
An investigation ensued, but after a month and a half of work, authorities had not managed to find any evidence to back up the claim. Unable to take any further action, the TABC closed the case on 07/14/2018.
A citizen complaint, filed on 01/03/2019, alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a minor and permitted the possession of drugs on the premises.
Due to a lack of video evidence, authorities could not determine the veracity of the claims. With no other course of action available, TABC agents decided to close the case on 02/17/2019.
The TABC returned to investigate once again after receiving another citizen complaint that claimed staff was drinking on the job, sold alcohol to an intoxicated person, and allowed the possession of drugs on the premises.
Though authorities looked into the matter for nearly two months, they were unable to produce any evidence of a violation. As a result, they decided to wrap up their work on the case on 10/01/2019.
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.
