Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Recess Arcade Bar? Here's What You Need To Know
I've been suing irresponsible bars for over-serving alcohol for 30 years. My experience handling hundreds of cases has repeatedly shown me just how many bars fail to follow alcohol service regulations, as well as the tragedies that all too often result. While people might see or hear about a drunk driving accident from time to time, they don't tend to hear about the role that reckless bars play in those accidents. In order to call more attention to this issue, I dedicate a portion of my time to reviewing the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting 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, don't hesitate to call me at (855) 326-0000.
Recess Arcade Bar is located in Austin, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted a significant amount of attention from the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2019, authorities conducted no fewer than eight investigations into the 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 cause 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 Recess Arcade Bar for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Recess Arcade Bar Between 2017 and 2019
Austin - 222 E 6th Street
Allegations:
On 01/13/2017, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
Upon investigation, authorities found evidence to support the allegation. From the report, it appears that the bar failed to provide the records that investigators requested in a timely manner, for which they handed down an unspecified penalty. On 06/05/2017, authorities closed the case.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 02/02/2017, accusing the bar of failing to report a breach of the peace (typically a fight).
Authorities looked into the matter and turned up enough evidence to confirm the claim. After issuing a written warning for an administrative violation, they closed the case on 03/23/2017.
A member of the Austin community reached out to the TABC on 01/29/2018, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
The ensuing investigation failed to turn up sufficient evidence of a criminal or administrative violation for the TABC to take action. Consequently, investigators closed the case on 02/16/2018.
On 05/31/2018, a complaint from an anonymous source alleged that a breach of the peace occurred.
TABC agents launched an inquiry into the allegation, but were unable to determine its veracity. As a result, the case came to a close on 07/11/2018.
Less than two months later, on 07/26/2018, an anonymous complaint alleged that a breach of the peace took place and that the bar failed to report it.
After nearly a month of investigation, authorities still had not managed to find any evidence of wrongdoing. With no other course of action available, they decided to close the case on 08/24/2018.
Just four days after closing the previous investigation, the TABC received another complaint alleging a breach of the peace that was not reported.
This time, authorities had luck finding supporting evidence of the allegations. After issuing two written warnings, they shut the case on 09/21/2018.
On 10/08/2018, a citizen complaint alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
In spite of investigators' best efforts, they did not manage to turn up evidence to back up the claim. Unable to take any action, the TABC closed the case on 12/01/2018.
A concerned citizen filed a complaint on 05/28/2019, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
The subsequent investigation lasted nearly a month and a half, but it did not find any proof of wrongdoing. Left with no other choice, authorities closed the case on 07/09/2019.
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.
