Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden is the founder and owner of Thirteen Restaurant by James Harden, an upscale dining restaurant located at 1911 Bagby St. in Houston, TX, that combines traditional flavors with a Japanese flare.
Thirteen Restaurant by James Harden, Team Harden LLC are being sued by Taylar Jackson’s family
Harden’s restaurant along with its parent company, Team Harden LLC, were named in a wrongful death lawsuit on Friday over a deadly crash last year.
The family of a woman who died months after the car wreck asserts that Thirteen overserved the driver who allegedly caused the crash.
Taylar Jackson, 30, was one of seven people who died from injuries sustained during the fatal collision last year. Her family is suing the restaurant.
The wreck occurred at 2000 Fannin Street around 2 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2023, involving a black Chrysler 300 and a black Acura SUV.
First-round NFL draft pick and former University of Houston football player D.J. Hayden, 33, and two other former university football players, Zachary McMillian, 32, and Izuchu “Ralph” Oragwu, 31, were among those pronounced dead following the collision.
Christian Herrera, 25, the driver of the Chrysler 300 traveling eastbound on Pierce Road, ran a red light and collided with the Acura SUV — occupied by Jackson, Hayden, McMillian, and Oragwu — traveling south on Fannin Street.
Herrera allegedly had a BAC of 0.139 that night
Nearby pedestrian Frank Johnson, 31, also died in the crash. The impact caused three persons in the Acura to be ejected. The Chrysler left the roadway, went onto a sidewalk, and struck Johnson.
Lauren Robinson, 32, the driver of the Acura, was pronounced dead as well, according to the May press release from the Houston Police Department.
The lawsuit filed by Jackson’s family asserts that Herrera ordered and was served alcohol in excess at Thirteen ahead of the crash. Herrera was served “beyond the point of intoxication.”
Per Texas law, it is illegal for drivers to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Herrera allegedly had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.139 that night.
“He was served past the point where he was obviously intoxicated to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others,” according to the lawsuit.
The restaurant is about seven blocks away from the intersection where the crash occurred. Jackson died six months after the crash. She intended to bring a cause of action for personal injury if she had lived, per the lawsuit.
Lawsuit seeks $1 million in damages
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges the restaurant was in violation of the Texas Dram Shop Act, which holds businesses liable for customers’ intoxication.
The restaurant failed to have a system in place to track the number of drinks served to patrons and failed to abide by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission practices, the family claims.
Herrera was never cut off and his drinks were allegedly never tracked by the bartender(s). According to reports, the lawsuit seeks $1 million in damages.
John Ricks, the COO of Thirteen Restaurant by James Harden, sent KPRC 2 News this statement Monday:
“We cannot imagine what the family of Taylar Jackson has gone through this past year and offer our deepest sympathies to them and everyone whose lives were deeply impacted by that tragic accident, and we were just made aware of the filing of this lawsuit. We ask for your patience as we gather more information on this filing and will make a more formal statement as soon as possible.”
