Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Rendezvous Private Club? 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.
Rendezvous Private Club is a bar located in Sherman, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2015 and 2019, authorities conducted four separate 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 Rendezvous Private Club for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Rendezvous Private Club Between 2015 and 2019
Sherman - 2111 Texoma Parkway
Allegations:
On 09/18/2015, a concerned citizen contacted the TABC, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
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 10/24/2015.
Law enforcement filed a complaint with the TABC on 11/15/2018, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
While the ensuing investigation failed to find any evidence to support the claim, it did manage to determine that the bar allowed customers to drink during prohibited hours. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC concluded its work on the case on 01/05/2019.
A second law enforcement complaint, filed on 05/17/2019, alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
Upon investigation, authorities found evidence that the bar sold alcohol to a non-member, which they classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC closed the case on 09/08/2019.
The TABC received yet another law enforcement complaint on 10/10/2019, again accusing the bar of selling alcohol to a drunk patron.
An investigation followed shortly thereafter, finding evidence that staff sold alcohol to a drunk person as well as a non-member, which they classified as both criminal and administrative violations. After handing down unspecified penalties, the TABC wrapped up its work on the case on 11/08/2019.
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.