Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Lake Dallas Point Restaurant? Here's What You Need To Know
I have been holding bad bars accountable for over-serving alcohol for the last 30 years. With hundreds of cases under my belt, I have seen over and over just how rampant this practice really is. While the public might hear about drunk driving accidents from time to time, it doesn't hear much about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. With the goal of calling more attention to this issue, I spend some of my time researching the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint database and writing about my findings here on my website. If you believe you may have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim, please call my office at (855) 326-0000.
Lake Dallas Point Restaurant is located in Lake Dallas, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted a substantial amount of attention from the TABC due to a number of complaints alleging liquor law violations. Between 2015 and 2018, authorities conducted no fewer than five investigations into alcohol service practices at Lake Dallas Point Restaurant.
In my experience, it is uncommon for a bar that has no previous history of TABC investigations to end up involved in a dram shop case. Almost every bar I've sued was already on the authorities' radar. That's why I pay close attention to bars with multiple recent complaints on record. The more investigations a bar has had, the more concerned I become that it could one day play a part in a wrongful death or injury.
I want to emphasize that an investigation does not mean a bar did anything illegal. At the same time, if authorities investigate and fail to find evidence of wrongdoing, it does not mean that a bar is necessarily innocent, either. Given the nature of liquor law violations, it can be difficult for authorities to uncover the evidence necessary for a conviction. What follows is simply a list of complaints against Lake Dallas Point Restaurant obtained from TABC's database.
TABC Investigations of Lake Dallas Point Restaurant Between 2015 and 2018
Lake Dallas - 303 Swisher Road Suite 100
Allegations:
On 01/16/2015, the TABC received a complaint from law enforcement, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated patron.
While the TABC's investigation into the matter failed to find any evidence to corroborate the claim, it did manage to locate proof that the bar committed other unrelated administrative violations. After handing down unspecified penalties, authorities closed the case on 01/30/2015.
A concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC on 12/22/2016, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person and allowed gambling on the premises.
The ensuing investigation failed to turn up any proof of an administrative or criminal violation. Unable to take any further action, authorities brought the case to a close on 02/21/2017.
An unnamed source filed a complaint on 03/23/2018, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to an intoxicated person.
The TABC launched an investigation into the matter, but could not prove that any wrongdoing took place. As a result, investigators could not take any action and thus decided to close the case on 05/30/2018.
On 08/30/2018, a law enforcement complaint brought the TABC back to investigate another claim that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk patron.
Due to a lack of video evidence, investigators were unable to determine the veracity of the claim. Consequently, they chose to shut the case on 11/08/2018.
Yet another law enforcement complaint, filed on 11/21/2018, alleged that the bar sold alcohol to a patron who was already over the limit.
On this occasion, investigators were able to find evidence to support the claim, which they classified as an administrative violation. For some reason, the TABC decided not to hand down any punishment. On 01/06/2019, the investigation came to a close.
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.
