Considering A Dram Shop Case Against La Capital? 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.
La Capital is a bar and live music venue located in Brownsville, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2019 and 2020 alone, authorities conducted four 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 La Capital for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of La Capital Between 2019 and 2020
Brownsville - 1655 Ruben Torres Boulevard, Suite 212
Allegations:
On 05/16/2019, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
Upon investigation, authorities found evidence to confirm the allegation, which they classified as both a criminal and administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, they closed the case on 05/29/2019.
A member of the Brownsville community reached out to the TABC on 08/23/2019, accusing the bar again of selling alcohol to an underage patron.
As in the previous investigation, TABC agents were able to prove the validity of the accusation, again classifying it as both a criminal and administrative violation. After punishing the bar with an unspecified penalty, they concluded their work on 09/03/2019.
Yet another citizen complaint, filed on 10/17/2019, accused the bar of selling alcohol to a minor.
The ensuing investigation found evidence to support two criminal violations (minors consuming alcoholic beverages) and one administrative violation (permitting a minor to consume alcohol). For some reason, the TABC decided not to punish the bar for the violations, and instead chose to close the case on 11/19/2019.
On 01/16/2020, a citizen complaint alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a minor and allowed staff to sell drugs on the premises.
Authorities looked into the matter, but due to a lack of evidence, they were unable to prove any wrongdoing occurred. As a result, the case came to a close on 02/18/2020.
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.
