Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Sparky's Pub? 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.
Sparky's Pub is located in San Antonio, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted a substantial amount of attention from the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2015 and 2019, authorities conducted no fewer than five 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, 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 Sparky's Pub for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Sparky's Pub Between 2015 and 2019
San Antonio - 1416 N Main
Allegations:
On 03/12/2015, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
Authorities conducted an inquiry 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. In this investigation, authorities had neither, which led to their decision to close the case on 04/01/2015.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 06/16/2017, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to a drunk patron.
TABC agents looked into the matter, but they failed to locate any hard evidence of wrongdoing. Unable to take any further action, they closed the case on 07/26/2017.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 07/04/2018, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a patron who was already intoxicated.
Even when the source of a complaint is a police officer, the TABC still requires corroborating evidence before it can take action. Agents investigated the claim, but were unable to substantiate it. As a result, the case came to a close on 07/14/2018.
A citizen complaint, filed on 01/29/2019, alleged that the bar sold alcohol to both an intoxicated person and during prohibited hours.
As mentioned in the first investigation summary, the TABC relies heavily on video footage to back up most claims of wrongdoing. Having no such evidence in this investigation, they decided to conclude their efforts on 03/29/2019.
Another law enforcement complaint arrived on 05/23/2019, accusing the bar again of selling alcohol to a drunk person.
Due to a lack of video evidence, authorities could not confirm the allegation. With no other course of action available, investigators closed the case on 07/03/2019.
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.
