Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Outlaw Jack's? Here's What You Need To Know
My firm has handled more dram shop cases than any other in Texas. With 30 years of experience behind me, I have seen countless examples of bars that fail to follow alcohol service regulations and the tragic consequences that can result. This issue is more rampant that people realize, and one of my goals is to bring it to the public's attention. One way I do this is by reviewing Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission complaint records and posting about my findings. If you think you may have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and want to know how to proceed, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
Outlaw Jack's is a bar located in Liberty, Texas. In spite of its small size, it has recently attracted a significant amount of attention from the TABC due to multiple allegations of liquor law violations. In 2019 alone, authorities conducted three separate investigations into alcohol service practices at Outlaw Jack's.
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 Outlaw Jack's for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Outlaw Jack's in 2019
Liberty - 3216 Beaumont Avenue
Allegations:
On 01/13/2019, the TABC received a complaint from a concerned citizen who alleged that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) took place.
The TABC conducted an investigation, but failed to find any proof of wrongdoing. Unable to take any further action, they decided to close the case on 02/09/2019.
Law enforcement filed a complaint with the TABC on 06/06/2019, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a patron who was already drunk.
Authorities followed up soon thereafter with an investigation. Even when police are the source of a complaint, 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. In this particular instance, authorities had neither. As a result, the case came to a close on 07/19/2019.
A member of the Liberty community contacted the TABC on 09/30/2019, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
Due to a lack of video evidence, authorities were unable to determine the veracity of the claim. With no other course of action available, they shut the case on 11/09/2019.
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.
