Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Maverick's Sports Grill? Here's What You Need To Know
I've sued more bad bars for irresponsible alcohol service over the last 30 years than anyone else in Texas. In the hundreds of cases I've handled, I've seen firsthand just how widespread the practice of over-serving really is. Too many bars put profit over safety, even though it is their legal responsibility to not let customers drink too much, and this practice adds to the risk of drunk driving accidents. In order to help people understand how frequently this happens, I regularly review the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and report 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, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
Maverick's is a popular sports bar in Arlington, Texas. It is located only a short distance from Levitt Pavilion, Globe Life Park, and AT&T Cowboy Stadium. Fans can opt to watch a game at the bar or use the in-house shuttle service to one of the aforementioned venues. Though it has a good reputation for its service, it has also had its share of run-ins with TABC for claims of liquor law violations. Over just a two-year period, Maverick's had three separate investigations.
In all my years of practice, rarely have I seen a bar without a prior history of TABC investigations involved in a dram shop case. Almost every bar I have sued was already on the authorities' radar. The more a bar is investigated, the more I become concerned that it might one day end up contributing to an accident.
Before moving on, I would like to point out that an investigation does not mean that a bar did anything illegal. At the same time, if authorities investigate and determine that the establishment is not in violation of TABC code, that does not mean that the alleged violation did not take place. Given the nature of liquor law violations, it can be quite difficult to obtain the evidence necessary for a conviction. What follows is simply a list of complaints against Maverick's Sports Grill obtained from TABC's database.
TABC Investigations of Maverick's Sports Grill
Arlington - 601 E Main Street
Allegations:
The first complaint on our list is dated 06/05/2017. A law enforcement agent alleged two violations therein: sale of alcohol to a minor and a breach of the peace (usually a fight).
The ensuing inquiry did not locate any evidence capable of standing up in court. Although the source of the complaint was a police officer, TABC was unable to take any action. Thus, the investigation ended on 08/04/2017.
On 03/08/2018, an unnamed source filed a complaint with TABC alleging that a breach of the peace occurred, and that the establishment did not report it (itself a violation).
Authorities investigated and managed to find evidence that corroborated the claims. TABC classified the matter as an administrative violation and issued a written warning. The case concluded on 04/25/2018.
A citizen complaint filed on 09/25/2018 claimed that staff sold alcohol to both an intoxicated patron and to a minor. TABC subsequently launched an investigation into these claims.
In the absence of video evidence, it is next to impossible for authorities to prove these kinds of allegations. In this case, authorities had none. Unable to take any further action, they ended their efforts on 11/02/2018.
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.
