In re Appeal of Hotel Liquor License

43 Pa. D. & C.5th 355
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Monroe County
DecidedDecember 6, 2014
DocketNo. 2097 CIVIL 2014
StatusPublished

This text of 43 Pa. D. & C.5th 355 (In re Appeal of Hotel Liquor License) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Monroe County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Appeal of Hotel Liquor License, 43 Pa. D. & C.5th 355 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).

Opinion

ZULICK, J.,

— 1. Tabs Entertainment, Inc., TIA Tabs Tavern and Inn (TABS) filed an appeal on March 21, 2014 from the decision of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) on March 19,2014 to deny renewal of TABS’ hotel liquor license.

2. TABS owns Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) Hotel Liquor License No. H-2892 (LID 59040) for premises it leases at 370 Route 196, Tobyhanna Pennsylvania, for the period beginning October 1, 2013 and ending September 30,2015. Exhibit R-l.

3. Robert Mathews (Mr. Mathews) is the sole shareholder and president of TABS. He bought one [357]*357hundred percent (100%) of the shares on June 6, 2012 from Jahan Tabatabaie (Mr. Tabatabaie) after the bar had been closed for one and a half years. Board Hearing, Dec. 27,2013, N.T, 26.

4. Until June 9, 2014, appellant’s brief, Mr. Mathews operated the bar and restaurant under the name “The Doo Wop Lounge.” He has closed down the bar due to personal, ongoing health issues. CCPHearing, N.T., 8-11. On June 23, 2014, Mr. Mathews sent the license to the PLCB, requesting that it be put into safekeeping; he later received the certified mail receipt. Exhibit A of appellant’s brief.

5. On April 20,2011, the PLCB approved a Conditional Licensing Agreement (CL A) that was entered into between TABS and the board’s office of chief counsel, the result of PLCB’s objection for the renewal period effective October 1, 2009. Exhibit R-4. The CLA imposed the following restrictions on licensee in an effort to address the concerns raised by licensing and the board:

a. [Licensee] shall maintain and enforce a written barred patrons list on the licensed premises. Such list shall be maintained by [licensee] as a business record, pursuant to section 493(12) of the liquor code and shall be made available upon request to law enforcement officials, as well as Board and Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (“Bureau”) employees;
b. [Licensee] shall employ at least one (1) security guard who will be present and working at the licensed premises on all Friday and Saturday nights, from 9:00 PM until closing and who will be clothed in such a way as to make his/her status as security personnel readily apparent;
[358]*358c. [Licensee] shall, within ninety (90) days of approval of this agreement, become compliant with and remain compliant with the responsible alcohol management provisions of the liquor code including, but not limited to:
i. New employee orientation;
ii. Training for alcohol service personnel;
iii. Manager/owner training;
iv. Displaying of responsible alcohol service signage; and
v. A certification compliance inspection by a representative of the board’s bureau of alcohol education;
For purposes of this section, days in which the license is in safekeeping shall not be counted against the ninety (90) day deadline; and
d. [Licensee] shall maintain a separate checking account with a banking institution insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation, which will be used solely for the purpose of paying its vendors, [licensee] will ensure sufficient funds to pay all vendors with a required minimum balance to satisfy account requirements. [Licensee] will electronically transfer funds to this separate checking account maintained for its vendors to ensure that adequate funds are available at all times to meet the payment requirement.

Id.

6. On September 19, 2013, licensee filed an untimely application for the renewal of Hotel Liquor License No. H-2892 (LID 59040). Id.

[359]*3597. By letter dated September 20, 2013, PLCB notified licensee that it objected to the renewal of its license for the license period effective October 1,2013, based on the following objections:

a. It is alleged that you have abused your licensing privilege, and pursuant to Section 470 of the liquor code (47 P.S. Section 4-470), you may no longer be eligible to hold a license based upon: violations of the liquor code relative to citation numbers 2010-0179, 2009-2613, 2009-2335, 2009-2301, 2009-0617, 2009-0468, and 2008-2540.
b. You have breached the conditional licensing agreement approved by the board on April 20, 2011, signed by Jahan Tabatabaie, president, Tabs Entertainment, Inc. and Faith S. Diehl, chief counsel, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Specifically, you have not become compliant with the Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP).
c. The bureau of licensing has rejected the late-filed renewal application pursuant to Section 470(a) of the liquor code (47 P.S. Section 470(a)).
d. You have failed to file the required tax clearance from the department of revenue indicating that all state tax reports have been filed and all state taxes have been paid, timely appealed or approved for deferred payment as required by Section 477 of the liquor code. 47 P.S. § 4-477.
e. You have failed to submit the additional $100.00 late filing fee pursuant to letter date September 20,2013.
f. You have failed to submit the application addendum in proper order pursuant to letter dated September 20, 2013.
[360]*360g. You have failed to submit a copy of the current valid health license pursuant to letter dated September 20, 2013.

8. The citations in the September 20, 2013 letter are as follows:

a. Citation No. 10-0179 was issued against licensee on February 1, 2010, concerning licensee’s violation of section 493(26) of the liquor code (47 P.S. § 4-493(26)), in that on October 30, November 3, 4, 6, 10, and 11, 2009, licensee, by its servants, agents or employees, issued checks or drafts inpayment for purchases of malt or brewed beverages, when it had insufficient funds in, or credit with, the institution upon which drawn for the payment of such checks, licensee admitted the charge and was fined four hundred dollars ($400.00).
b. Citation No. 09-2613 was issued against licensee on November 13,2009, concerning licensee’s violation of section 493(26) of the liquor code (47 P.S. § 4-493(26)), in that on August 10, 2009, licensee, by its servants, agents or employees, issued checks or drafts in payment for purchases of malt or brewed beverages, when it had insufficient funds in, or credit with, the institution upon which drawn for the payment of such checks. Licensee admitted the charge and was fined three hundred dollars ($300.00).
c. Citation No. 09-2335 was issued against licensee on October 7, 2009, concerning licensee’s violation of section 491 (10) of the liquor code (47 P./S. § 4-491(10)), in that on September 21,2009, licensee, by its servants, agents or employees, fortified, adulterated, and/or contaminated liquor. Licensee admitted the charge and was fined two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
[361]*361d. Citation No.

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Bluebook (online)
43 Pa. D. & C.5th 355, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-appeal-of-hotel-liquor-license-pactcomplmonroe-2014.