Bar pays $15,000 fine after incident involving bouncer

Kung Fu Saloon pays stiff fine to state after a customer was seriously injured.

A popular downtown Austin nightclub Friday paid a $15,000 fine to the state stemming from an incident in November 2014 that seriously injured a man.

Kung Fu Saloon on Rio Grande Street had faced having its license to sell alcohol suspended for 50 days if it failed to pay the fine by early April, agency officials said.

Offifficials said the penalt y is unusually high. In most cases, they said clubs face three- or four-day suspensions and fines of up to $1,000.

“We looked at the evidence, and we worked with the local police department to take statements from witnesses, and it was determined that thi s situation warranted the heavy suspension or the heavy fine,” Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission spokesman Chris Porter said.

Kung Fu Saloon offic ials didn’t return a request for comment Friday.

The fine resulted from an incident about 16 months ago that left a San Antonio man seriously injured. Joey O’Hare was at the club when police say a bar employee dragged him and either dropped him or allowed O’Hare to fall on his head.

The American-Statesman last year reported on similar incidents involving bar bouncers and on regulations concerning their occupation.

O’Hare is recovering from his injuries and has returned to work. He has since settled a civil lawsuit against the club for an undisclosed amount.

The employee, Robert Giovanni Camillone, was charged with aggravated assault. His case is pending in Travis County court.

Porter said that, as part of the commission’s investigation, offic ials found Kung Fu Saloon had violated state regulations that included selling alcohol to an intoxicated person and not reporting the incident involving O’Hare.

The penalty was the result of a settlement last month between the club and the state licensing agency, Porter said.