Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Outlaw Ray's Grill & Bar? Here's What You Need To Know

I have sued more bars for irresponsible alcohol service in the last thirty years than anyone else in Texas. Having handled hundreds of cases, I can attest to just how widespread the practice of over-serving customers is. 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 the interest of helping the general public see the real extent of this problem, I spend a portion of my time researching the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's record of complaints and posting about my findings here on my website. If you think you might have a dram shop (liquor liability) case, don't hesitate to call me at (855) 326-0000.

Outlaw Ray's Grill & Bar is located in Crosby, Texas. While most visitors come to simply catch a game over a drink, the TABC has also come knocking on multiple occasions in recent years due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2016 and 2019, authorities conducted three separate investigations into Outlaw Ray's Grill & 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 contribute to an accident.

Note: Investigations are not evidence that a bar has broken the law. Investigators must have sufficient proof that there was a violation of TABC regulations in order to take legal action. Owing to the nature of liquor law violations, that proof can often be difficult for authorities to obtain. The purpose of this article is simply to relay publicly-available information about incidents where the TABC has investigated Outlaw Ray's Grill & Bar for possible criminal or administrative violations.

TABC Investigations of Outlaw Ray's Grill & Bar Between 2016 and 2019

Crosby - 140390 Fm 2100 Suite C

Allegations:

On 10/25/2016, the TABC received a citizen complaint, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.

TABC agents looked into the matter and found sufficient evidence to corroborate the claim, which they classified as an administrative violation. However, for some reason, authorities chose not to hand down any punishment and instead closed the investigation on 12/17/2016.

A member of the Crosby community filed a complaint on 11/02/2018, charging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.

Authorities followed up soon after with an investigation. 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 01/19/2019.

Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 10/23/2019, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk person.

The TABC launched an investigation, but due to a lack of video evidence, it was unable to back up the allegation. Even the word of a police officer is not enough for the TABC to take action. On 12/06/2019, investigators ended their work on the case.

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.