Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Seyito Rojo? Here's What You Need To Know
For three decades, I've been holding bars accountable for over-serving alcohol. In the hundreds of cases I've handled, I've seen just how widespread irresponsible alcohol service is, as well as the tragedies that often follow in its wake. 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 order to draw more attention to this issue, I dedicate a portion of my time to investigating the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting my findings here on my website. If you believe you may have a dram shop claim, please call my office at (855) 326-0000.
Seyito Rojo is a nightclub located in Houston, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. In 2019 alone, authorities conducted two separate investigations into the bar'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 Seyito Rojo for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Seyito Rojo in 2019
Houston - 4343 Telephone Road
Allegations:
On 05/21/2019, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the club sold alcohol to a minor.
Authorities looked into the matter shortly thereafter, but did not manage to find any evidence to support the claim. However, they did find evidence of other unrelated administrative violations. After deciding not to take any action, the TABC closed the case on 06/13/2019.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 10/05/2019, claiming that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) occurred.
Even when the source of a complaint is a police officer, for most allegations of wrongdoing, the TABC requires either video footage of the incident or eyewitness testimony from one of its agents before it can take action. As authorities had neither in this investigation, they were left with no choice but to shut the case, which they did on 10/07/2019.
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.
