When will the ongoing feud between Hans’ Bier Haus and the 2520 Robinhood at Kirby condos be optioned for television? Fortunately for the scriptwriters among you busy preparing your treatments, the tale of the little open-air bar in the Rice Village and the residents of the 16-story condo tower next door who like to pour water and heave beer cans, bottles, eggs onto its patrons isn’t just a simple melodrama. It’s a simple melodrama with a rich lineup of stock supporting characters. Reporter Angela Grant introduces a few of them in her report on yesterday’s court hearing:
The helpful concierge. Reggie McGowan, the condo-building concierge Bill Cave dragged by the necktie into the elevator on the night of December 13th, had no idea what was happening, and feared the angry and shouting Bier Haus co-owner was going to bring him up to the roof and throw him off:
When the pair exited the elevator onto the 4th floor, McGowan said he heard Cave say that water was spraying the bar and he wanted to turn it off.
“I said oh, I understand. I can take care of that,†McGowan said. “I had already picked up the hose Wednesday morning of that week.â€
The disgruntled former employee. Condo management company employee Alton Smith was fired on December 15th, after a confrontation with 2 of the 3 condo residents the lawsuit claims had been throwing items at the bar. Conveniently, both of those men — Mark Theusen and Richard Booker — “happen to serve on the condo association’s board of directors, which is responsible for firing decisions,” writes Grant.
The water that rained down on partygoers at Hans’ Bier Haus two nights earlier came from a hose that was connected to a spigot on a patio belonging to Robert Souders, the lawsuit’s 3rd defendant. But Smith told the court he had seen the hose in the same Bier-Haus-soaking configuration at least 2 times before that night. Writes Grant:
“Angry about his firing, Smith approached the Hans’ Bier Haus owners, told them what he knew about the incidents and he named the three defendants as the perpetrators.”
More bit parts that may soon be available:
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The clumsy lawyer. The attorney for the 3 condo-resident defendants, Gary DeSerio, tried to demonstrate that the plaintiffs had disqualified themselves from receiving help from the court because they had “unclean hands,” and had acted unethically, in part by violating city noise ordinances.
But DeSerio likely didn’t do his clients any favors with his own unsteady hands. In the middle of Bill Cave’s testimony about the water that spilled from 2520 Robinhood and flooded out the December 13th concert at Hans’ Bier Haus, the attorney knocked over a water pitcher on his desk, soaking the carpet in front of the judge.
Fortunately, DeSerio avoided the possibility of any altercation by immediately apologizing to the judge, as court staffers rushed to mop up the spill with paper towels.
The no-nonsense judge. Judge Patricia Hancock of the 113th Civil Court didn’t buy DeSerio’s argument that the behavior of the bar owners was relevant to the case, Grant indicates. And she granted a temporary injunction against the condo residents from enacting any further damage to the bar — projectile or non-projectile.
But she also went further, prohibiting any interaction at all between the condo owners and the bar owners. If anything happens between the two from here on out, cleanup will be a job for the police.
- Judge Prohibits Assaults On Hans’ Bier Haus [Instant News West U]
- Previously on Swamplot: 2520 Robinhood Vs. the Merry Men of Hans’ Bier Haus: It’s Come to This, 2520 Robinhood Torments the Beer Drinkers Next Door
Photo of Hans’ Bier Haus, 2523 Quenby St.: Jack H.
No doubt we will be told that this is a matter of a “disgruntled employee who had been fired.” And some might believe it.
If there is ever an award for the most obnoxious community in Houston, 2520 Robinhood will be competing for the honor along with Southampton and Boulevard Oaks.
I don’t drink and I rarely go to bars, but all this makes me want to go hang out at the Bier Haus.
Careful, EMME – according to Convicted Felon and AA, walking through the door of the Bier Haus will turn you into a raving alcoholic!
Long live the bars! They should be allowed to keep EVERYONE in Houston awake at night
Great story. Nice twist with the “disgruntled former employee” getting a chance to put the screws to his former employer. You should have included the “shouting Bier Haus co-owner” AKA Bill Cave, as another supporting character. Please keep us updated, especially when the “shouting Bier Haus co-owner” goes to court for assaulting the “helpful concierge”
Funny how Bill Cave feels vindicated after the judge ordered a “mutual†restraining order. But Cave forgot that for over an hour on the witness stand, he 100% admitted his guilt to the 2 criminal charges filed against him.
Can Cave say “1 year in Harris County Jail�
Cave believes a reasonable jury will set him free because he was saving lives from being electrocuted. What the big cont artist did NOT think of, was to simply turn the power off if his customers were being killed.
Good luck getting a jury to believe you Cave!
(it keeps getting better!)
wow, chad…sounds almost like you hatched the watering plan yourself.
swamplot, get ready for that subpoena when the attorneys get wind of chad’s posts!
Cave believes a reasonable jury will set him free because he was saving lives from being electrocuted. What the big cont artist did NOT think of, was to simply turn the power off if his customers were being killed.
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I guess he could have. I guess the Harris County District Attorney’s Office could also investigate whoever turned their sprinklers on and directed them below and charge the person or persons with attempted murder.
I’m sure some of the homeowners did not agree with the actions of the others and did not participate. But the ones who did, well, two words. Pond scum.
The comments from people that obviously live at the condos (and likely defendants themselves) gets better and better.
I think the other reasonable question to ask chad is whether the condo owner(s) considered the possible risks to the bar patrons before deliberately turning a garden hose on them. Or did they just wrack their brains to think of the way they could most act like 4 year olds.
I think the other reasonable question to ask chad is whether the condo owner(s) considered the possible risks to the bar patrons before deliberately turning a garden hose on them. Or did they just wrack their brains to think of the way they could most act like 4 year olds.
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You mean act like 4 year old spoiled brats. It’s a new psychological disorder called Southampton Syndrome.
Buying a home next to a commercial property, especially a bar is just duhmb. With no zoning, builders will put luxury/faux luxury condos anywhere, even next to a bar. Duhmb increased when Buyer ignores bar, doesn’t ask to see units at, say 10-11pm at night. Buyer gets deserved noise problem. Should builder disclose?
Reminds me of the lawyer who raised cane with Wabash Antiques because of the noisy roosters. I think the roosters lost.
Reminds me of the lawyer who raised cane with Wabash Antiques because of the noisy roosters. I think the roosters lost.
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The roosters obviously didn’t have the right attorney.
As for the HOA of 2520 Robinhood they should have just dropped some money into Annise Parker’s war chest – one of the two chairs of “Stop Ashby” of course is one of the two chairs of her new “Density and Development” task force.
No doubt its first priority is to fast-track an ordinance that applies to hirises that the developers have not picked up their foundation permits.
I absolutely love that the Hon. Patricia Hancock is presiding over this case. I haven’t looked to see if she’s hearing because she’s presiding over the ancillary docket right now. I hope the whole case wound up in her court. She’s a smart, no-nonsense judge and will have ZERO tolerance for shenanigans on either side.
The condo association’s director’s and officer’s liability coverage could certainly have a good chance of being filed against for the actions of the two board members in this case. Not that Cave doesn’t also have to expect legal action against him.
I’ve actually appeared before Judge Hancock a number of times. She’s a complete moron who easily loses her patience whenever confronted with something she doesn’t understand or care to understand (which is often). I guess that’s a kind of “zero tolerance for shenanigans” if by “shenanigans” you mean statutes, case law, and civil procedure.
She’s a complete moron who easily loses her patience whenever confronted with something she doesn’t understand or care to understand (which is often). I guess that’s a kind of “zero tolerance for shenanigans†if by “shenanigans†you mean statutes, case law, and civil procedure.
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That sort of describes most if not all of our judges.
My experience with my bar/nightclub/live music venue is so different from this one. In fact, a few years back the property went up for sale, we were all worried townhomes would go in and were relieved when it was sold intact as a bar/live music venue. And the new owners have proven to be even better neighbors than the previous ones, for which we had no complaints.
It’s the personalities, not the geography that makes this what it is.
I was at the injunction hearing. Both the original and the continuance. Frankly, the condos lawyer is the reason they have already lost the case.
He actually wanted judge hancock to drop the injunction simply because there was no proof of “who” turned on the water.
Unreal – The judge went crazy. I believe her words were “Are you people insane? – You should be thanking me and saying Amen”.
“Apeal Me, I dare you!”
I was very impressed by the judge. She isnt a fool and could see the facts as they are rather than the legal loopholes that some lawyers try to twist them into.
Im bringing Pop-Corn to the next hearing.