Thinking About Filing A Dram Shop Lawsuit Against Twin Peaks? Here's What You Should Know
My firm has sued more bars than anybody in Texas. I don't think the general public understands how widespread a problem the over-service of alcohol is, so I've made it my mission to examine the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's files and to share what I find. If you would like to talk about a possible Dram Shop case, call me at (855) 326-0000.
Twin Peaks is an American chain of sports bars and restaurants based in Lewisville, TX. They have approximately 61 locations throughout Texas and across the United States. The company boasts an annual revenue of approximately $200 million per year and has become a major challenger to Hooters in the "breastaurant" game, as about 40 new locations have opened up in the last five years.
This success hasn't come without some regulatory scrutiny of the company's alcohol service practices, however, as the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) has conducted 22 investigations into allegations of improper service or handling of alcohol at Twin Peaks locations since the start of 2017.
Simply because a Twin Peaks location was investigated, it does not mean that they are a location that displays a pattern of violating TABC code. Conversely, if a location has been investigated and investigators do not find sufficient evidence to prove a violation, that does not mean that the alleged violation did not take place. At times, sufficient evidence required to prove that either criminal or administrative violations occurred is hard to come by. We are simply reporting the locations that were put on the TABC's radar for one reason or another by concerned citizens and law enforcement agencies.
Twin Peaks Locations that Have Been Investigated by the TABC Since 2017
Our research shows that Twin Peaks has been investigated by the TABC 22 times. Below, we detail each of these 22 investigations.
Addison - 5260 Belt Line Road
Allegation:
On 9/18/2017, this location was alleged to have permitted a minor to possess or consume alcohol, permitted the possession of drugs, and sold alcohol to an intoxicated person, all on the same day. These allegations usually occur at the same time regarding the same person or the same group of people. For example, a man under the age of 21 may have been working at this location and was alleged to have been smoking marijuana in the cold storage while being served alcohol by his bartender buddy. In that situation, all of the separate code violations would be applicable to the same person. It's also entirely possible that the allegations refer to a group of people that just happened to have potentially violated three separate TABC codes.
At any rate, on 10/24/2017, TABC investigators did not find enough evidence, regarding any one of the three allegations, to push further and recommend corrective actions.
Beaumont - 3805 Ih 10 South
Allegation:
On 7/9/2017, a law enforcement agency alleged that the Beaumont Twin Peaks location may have sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
Upon further review, TABC investigators were unable to uncover enough evidence of criminal or administrative violations and closed the investigation accordingly on 8/9/2017.
Early in 2018, this same location was under TABC scrutiny again. A member of the community alleged that an intoxicated person had been served alcohol at this location on 2/27/2018.
TABC investigators closed the case on 4/4/2018, after failing to find enough evidence to support the allegations.
Corpus Christi - 5425 S Padre Island Drive
Allegation:
On 11/1/2017, TABC investigators were referred to this location by a member of the Corpus Christi community regarding the alleged sale of alcohol to a minor.
After roughly a month and a half of investigating, TABC officials reviewed the evidence that they had on hand, and it simply wasn't enough to move forward with administrative punishment.
The investigation was closed on 12/22/2017.
Fort Worth - 6650 North Freeway
Allegation:
The allegations against this location are particularly troubling. It was alleged by a member of the general public that this location had not only sold alcohol to a minor, but also allowed the sale or possession of drugs by an alcohol license holder and sold alcohol to an intoxicated person. This investigation began on 2/26/2018
TABC investigators looked into each of the three allegations and found that there wasn't adequate evidence of wrongdoing for corrective action to be warranted. TABC officials closed the investigation on 3/31/2018.
Mesquite - 18895 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
Allegation:
According to TABC reports, this location was alleged to have sold alcohol to a minor and to have sold alcohol to an intoxicated person on 1/29/2018. These two allegations could very well be against the same person.
Apparently, there was not enough evidence to support these allegations, as TABC investigators failed to levy any fines and closed the investigation on 3/14/2018.
Earlier, on March 2nd of 2017, this location received more scrutiny by TABC officials as it was alleged by a customer that an intoxicated person was sold alcohol.
The TABC investigators closed this investigation on 5/2/2017 after not finding enough evidence to support the claim.
Later in 2017,on May 17th, this same location was reported by a concerned citizen to have allegedly sold or delivered alcohol to an intoxicated person. That makes three allegations of serving a drunk patron within the span of 8 months.
Yet again, TABC investigators closed down the investigation on 6/27/2017, unable to uncover evidence of wrongdoing by this Twin Peaks location.
Odessa - 5001 E 42nd St.
Allegation:
On 3/10/2017, this Twin Peaks location was alleged to have sold alcohol to an intoxicated person by a private citizen.
Two months later, on 5/12/2017, the investigation was shut down with no fines levied by TABC officials.
Then early in 2018 on January 8th, it was alleged that this location had failed to post a required sign.
TABC officials finished their investigation on 1/12/2018 and issued a written warning.
Finally on 3/7/2018, there was an allegation that this location failed to post a required sign again.
on 3/27/2018, the investigation was closed with no criminal or administrative violations found.
Plano - 1700 N Central Expressway
Allegation:
On 2/1/2018, police alleged that this location had sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
TABC officials ended their investigation on 3/7/2018 without finding enough evidence to move forward with further action.
Round Rock - 100 Louis Henna Boulevard
Allegation:
On 12/6/2017, police alleged that this location had sold alcohol to a person that was obviously intoxicated.
The TABC took no further action after being unable to find enough evidence to support the allegations and closed the investigation on 2/2/2018.
San Angelo - 1601 Knickerbocker Road
Allegation:
This particular location found itself under investigation by the TABC a staggering four times since the beginning of last year.
The first alleged transgression was brought the attention of TABC officials by a law enforcement agency that alleged that there had been a fight and that the bar had sold an obviously intoxicated person alcohol on 3/25/2017.
Apparently there wasn't sufficient evidence required to move forward with the case because the investigation was closed on 5/5/2017 with no further action taken.
Then, on 8/17/2017 this same location was alleged to have sold alcohol to a patron under the age of 21 by a private citizen.
TABC investigators completed their investigation on 10/7/2017 after failing to find enough evidence of wrongdoing.
Later, in October of 2017, it was alleged by a law enforcement agency that there had been an instance of selling alcohol to an intoxicated person..
On 11/10/2017 TABC officials stopped their probe into the allegations deciding that no further action was need due to the lack of evidence to support the allegation.
Finally, on 2/15/2018, the location was once again reported to the TABC by a member of the community for selling alcohol to a minor, again.
However, even with the several previous reports, the TABC decided that the evidence available did not support the allegations and closed the investigation on March 24th.
Shenandoah - 18310 IH 45
Allegation:
On 2/28/2017, a police agency alleged that this location had sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
After a short investigation, TABC officials closed their investigation on 4/13/2017 after not finding sufficient evidence to move forward in the investigation.
Later 10/5/2017, a member of the community reported that this location may have sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
After failing to find enough evidence of alleged criminal or administrative violations, the investigation was shut down on 11/12/2017.
Finally 2/20/2018, a member of the community alleged that staff had sold alcohol to a minor.
Although this was the third time that this location had been accused of serving alcohol inappropriately, the investigation was closed on 3/28/2018
Shenandoah - 18310 IH 45
Allegation:
On 2/20/2018, a customer alleged that this particular location may have sold alcohol to a person under that legal age.
TABC investigators closed their investigation on 3/28/2018 after being unable to find enough evidence to continue with administrative action.
Later 10/5/2017, a member of the community reported that this location may have sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.
After failing to find enough evidence of alleged criminal or administrative violations, the investigation was shut down on 11/12/2017.
Finally 2/20/2018, a member of the community alleged that staff had sold alcohol to a minor.
Although this was the third time that this location had been accused of serving alcohol inappropriately, the investigation was closed on 3/28/2018
Webster - 20931 Gulf Freeway
Allegation:
On 10/23/2017, a member of the community alleged that this particular location may have sold alcohol to a person under that legal age.
TABC investigators closed their investigation on 12/20/2017 after being unable to find enough evidence to continue with administrative action.
Texas Law Says Accident Victims Can Sue Bad Bars
If you would like to learn more about Texas "dram shop" law (i.e. liqour liability law / lawsuits against bars who play a role in injurious or fatal accidents), please visit our Texas Dram Shop Law Info Page.
