Real heroes don't wear capes... they sell craft beer and bourbon.
The good people at Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods are suing the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission for “abusive regulatory overreach” over an regulatory action that dragged on for almost two years before falling apart last year.
The federal lawsuit was filed in Houston in late August but only recently surfaced to the public eye.
In the court case Specs claims the TABC “wrongfully and maliciously” attempted to “extort” money from them by threatening to shut down their business if they didn't give more than $700 million in civil penalties to the government.Good lord that's a lotta money!
A pair of judges said the agency failed to prove dozens of allegations and chastised the agency for failing to disclose evidence to witnesses and the court.
The judges said the agency was “stacking” charges, a tactical move used to pressure defendants into settling.
In the end, the judges recommended no fines against Specs.
Now Specs is suing the state of Texas' liquor regulators and we are cheering them on! Go Specs!
The TABC has been an overbearing arm of the Texas government for too long.