Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Zona Caliente Sports Bar and Grill? 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.

Zona Caliente Sports Bar and Grill is located in Arlington, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2018 and 2019 alone, authorities conducted four 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 Zona Caliente Sports Bar and Grill for possible criminal or administrative violations.

TABC Investigations of Zona Caliente Sports Bar and Grill Between 2018 and 2019

Arlington - 6507 S Cooper Street #167D

Allegations:

Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 06/15/2018, claiming that the bar failed to report a breach of the peace (typically a fight).

Upon investigation, authorities were able to confirm the allegation, which they classified as an administrative violation. After issuing a written warning, the TABC closed the case on 08/01/2018.

The TABC received an anonymous complaint on 08/30/2018, alleging that the bar sold alcohol both to a minor and during prohibited hours.

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 09/16/2018.

A second anonymous complaint reached the TABC on 12/13/2018, accusing the bar of allowing a minor to both purchase and consume alcohol.

The ensuing investigation was able to find sufficient evidence to confirm the allegations, which authorities classified as both criminal and administrative violations. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC concluded its work on the case on 12/17/2018.

On 02/19/2019, a concerned citizen reached out to the TABC, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to an underage customer and possessed alcohol unfit for consumption.

As mentioned in the second 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 03/22/2019.

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.