Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Klusoz Martini Lounge? Here's What You Need To Know

I've sued more reckless bars for failing to adhere to liquor laws than anyone else in the state of Texas. With three decades of experience and hundreds of cases behind me, I have seen just how frequently bars put profit before safety and over-serve alcohol, in spite of their legal obligation to serve responsibly. While people might see or hear of drunk driving accidents from time to time, they don't tend to hear as much about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. In order to raise more awareness of this topic, I spend a portion of my time researching the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint database and writing about my findings here on my website. If you think you might have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim, don't hesitate to call my office at (855) 326-0000.

Klusoz Martini Lounge is a night club located in Lubbock, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2016 and 2018, authorities conducted six separate investigations into the club's alcohol service practices.

In my three decades of legal practice, rarely have I seen bar end up involved in a wrongful death or injury case that didn't have a history of complaints on file with TABC. Almost every bar I've ever sued was already on the authorities radar, so when I see a bar that has been investigated several times over a short period, it raises my concern that it could one day play a part in 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 Klusoz Martini Lounge for possible criminal or administrative violations.

TABC Investigations of Klusoz Martini Lounge Between 2016 and 2018

Lubbock - 1802 Buddy Holly Avenue

Allegations:

On 01/09/2016, a member of the Lubbock community reached out to the TABC, alleging that the club allowed a minor to both purchase and consume alcohol.

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 02/12/2016.

A concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC on 02/26/2016, claiming that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) occurred and that the club failed to report it (a separate violation in itself).

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 04/04/2016.

Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 06/15/2016, accusing the bar of allowing customers to both purchase and consume alcohol during prohibited hours.

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 08/11/2016.

A second law enforcement complaint, filed on 08/22/2016, alleged that the club sold alcohol to a drunk person.

An investigation ensued, but authorities were ultimately unable to produce sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to take any action. Consequently, the TABC closed the case on 10/03/2016.

Yet another law enforcement complaint reached the TABC on 02/24/2017, claiming that the bar failed to report a breach of the peace.

The subsequent investigation found evidence to corroborate the claim, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After handing down a written warning, the TABC concluded its work on the case on 02/25/2017.

Law enforcement contacted the TABC 05/23/2018, alleging that the bar allowed customers to drink during prohibited hours and permitted the removal of an alcoholic beverage from the premises.

Authorities looked into the allegations, but after over two months of investigation, they still had not managed to uncover any corroborating evidence. On 07/30/2018, the TABC decided to wrap up its work on the case.

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.