Considering A Dram Shop Case Against University 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.
University Club is a bar located in Stephenville, 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 five 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, 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 University Club for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of University Club Between 2017 and 2019
Stephenville - 1400 W Swan Street - Clubhouse
Allegations:
On 10/24/2017, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to both a minor and an intoxicated patron.
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 12/22/2017.
The TABC received an anonymous complaint on 02/12/2018, again claiming that the bar sold alcohol to both a minor and a drunk patron.
Upon investigation, authorities found evidence to support the first of the two claims, which they classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC closed the case on 03/29/2018.
A complaint from an unnamed source reached the TABC on 08/30/2018, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
As mentioned in the first investigation summary, the TABC relies heavily on video footage to back up most claims of wrongdoing. Since authorities had no such evidence in this investigation, they could not take any action, leading to their decision to close the case on 10/25/2018.
On 02/26/2019, a citizen complaint brought the TABC back to investigate once again. This time, the allegation was that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
An investigation ensued, but due to a lack of video evidence, authorities could not determine the veracity of the claim. Unable to take further action, the TABC close the case on 04/21/2019.
Less than two months after the previous investigation ended, the TABC received another citizen complaint that alleged the bar sold alcohol to an underage customer.
TABC agents conducted an inquiry into the claim, but they were ultimately unable to confirm its validity due to a lack of evidence. Consequently, investigators decided to conclude their efforts on 07/23/2019.
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.
