A man in Texas has won a $5.5 million (£4 million) lawsuit against a bar after claiming he was served too much alcohol, resulting in a head injury during a fight with another customer.
Daniel Rawls from Andrews sued La Fogata Mexican Grill following an incident in May 2019. He alleged that staff allowed both him and another patron, Robert Henrickson, to become excessively intoxicated, leading to a brawl in the restaurant's car park. Rawls sustained a head injury after being assaulted by Henrickson and falling on an uneven surface.
The lawsuit also claimed that the bar failed to call an ambulance after Rawls was injured. The Andrews County 109th District Court ruled in Rawls' favour by default, as the restaurant's owner, Lourdes Galindo, did not respond or attend the hearing. The court awarded damages for premises liability, negligence, and foreseeable criminal conduct.
Rawls' legal team argued that the bartender, identified only as John or Jane Doe, lacked adequate training to recognise when customers were intoxicated. However, court records show Rawls has a history of excessive drinking, with two prior arrests for public intoxication.
La Fogata has 30 days to file an appeal if it wishes to seek a new trial, under Texas procedural rules.
