Considering A Dram Shop Case Against La Kumbia San Angelo? 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 Kumbia San Angelo is a bar located in San Angelo, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2016 and 2019, authorities conducted four separate 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 Kumbia San Angelo for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of La Kumbia San Angelo Between 2016 and 2019
San Angelo - 1329 Hughes Street
Allegations:
On 07/01/2016, a staff member filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor. While it might seem strange for a staff member to be the source of a TABC complaint, employees have a legal obligation to report any violations they see in the workplace.
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 08/06/2016.
A member of the San Angelo community reached out to the TABC on 08/18/2016, claiming that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) took place and that the bar failed to report it (a separate violation in itself).
The ensuing investigation was able to confirm both allegations, which authorities classified as administrative violations. After handing down unspecified penalties, the TABC closed the case on 10/07/2016.
On 12/20/2017, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to both minor and an intoxicated 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 02/08/2018.
Law enforcement filed a TABC complaint on 02/06/2019 that alleged the bar failed to report a breach of the peace.
Upon investigation, authorities found evidence to support the claim, which they classified as an administrative violation. After issuing the bar a written warning, the TABC closed the case on 03/18/2019.
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.
