Considering A Dram Shop Case Against McGarity's Restaurant & Saloon? Here's What You Need To Know
My firm has sued more bars for liquor law violations than any other in Texas. In my over 30 years of experience, I have repeatedly seen just how serious the consequences can be when bars over-serve alcohol. While the public might see or hear about a drunk driving accident from time to time, it's much less common to hear about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. One of my goals is to raise awareness about the extent of this problem. To this end, I dedicate some of my time to investigating Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission complaint records and reporting what I find here on my website. If you think you might have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and would like to learn about how to proceed, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
McGarity's Restaurant & Saloon is located in Jefferson, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2019, authorities conducted two separate investigations of the restaurant'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 McGarity's Restaurant & Saloon for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of McGarity's Restaurant & Saloon Between 2017 and 2019
Jefferson - 208 W Dallas Street 'A'
Allegations:
On 05/12/2017, a concerned citizen contacted the TABC, alleging that staff was drinking on the job, in addition to selling alcohol to a minor, an intoxicated customer, and 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 07/09/2017.
A member of the Jefferson community reached out to the TABC on 04/29/2019, claiming that the restaurant allowed the possession of an un-invoiced alcoholic beverage, as well as other miscellaneous violations.
The ensuing investigation was able to confirm the first allegation, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After issuing a written warning, the TABC concluded its work on the case on 06/21/2019.
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.
