Considering A Dram Shop Case Against La Movida Grill & Bar? Here's What You Need To Know
For three decades, I've been holding bars accountable for over-serving alcohol. In the hundreds of cases I've handled, I've seen just how widespread irresponsible alcohol service is, as well as the tragedies that often follow in its wake. While people might see or hear about drunk driving accidents from time to time, rarely do they hear about the role that reckless bars play in those accidents. In order to draw more attention to this issue, I dedicate a portion of my time to investigating the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting my findings here on my website. If you believe you may have a dram shop claim, please call my office at (855) 326-0000.
La Movida Grill & Bar is located in Dallas, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2018 alone, authorities conducted three separate investigations into the bar's alcohol service practices.
In my experience, it's 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 contribute to 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 La Movida Grill & Bar for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of La Movida Grill & Bar Between 2017 and 2018
Dallas - 1222 S Riverfront Boulevard
Allegations:
Law enforcement filed a complaint with the TABC on 07/27/2017, claiming that the bar sold alcohol during prohibited hours.
The ensuing investigation found sufficient evidence to confirm that the bar allowed customers to consume alcohol during prohibited hours, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC closed the case on 09/21/2017.
The TABC received an anonymous complaint on 12/05/2017, alleging that the bar sold alcohol during prohibited hours.
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 01/17/2018.
Another anonymous complaint, filed on 04/30/2018, alleged that the bar sold alcohol during prohibited hours and alleged the presence of an alcoholic beverage acquired from another retailer.
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 06/09/2018.
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.
