EXPERT WITNESS — DRAM SHOP & ALCOHOL SERVICE LIABILITY
Alcohol Service, Bar Hospitality & Safety Expert
I provide expert witness opinions and litigation support for attorneys in dram shop liability, negligent alcohol service and overservice cases, drawing on direct experience founding and operating a licensed craft brewery and taproom from the ground up.
10+
Years in alcohol service & hospitality operations
TIPS
Certified — Training for Intervention ProcedureS
ServSafe
Certified — On-premises alcohol liability (manager)
BJCP
Certified Beer Judge — production & industry standards
WHAT I HANDLE
Not only did I own and operate a bar, I built one and held everyone in it accountable.
As founder and operator of GrassLands Brewing Company in Tallahassee, I developed the standard operating procedures, staff training programs and compliance frameworks that govern responsible alcohol service. I organized and hosted an annual ID analysis training program under Florida ATF oversight, open to staff from bars and restaurants across the market.
When attorneys retain me, they get an expert who understands — from the owner’s perspective — what compliant, accountable alcohol service looks like in practice and what it looks like when it fails.
DRAM SHOP LIABILITY
Overservice & negligent alcohol service
Assessment of whether staff continued serving a visibly intoxicated patron in violation of dram shop law, duty-of-care obligations and applicable service standards.
STAFF TRAINING & COMPLIANCE
Inadequate server education & training failures
Evaluation of whether bartenders and servers were adequately trained to identify intoxication, enforce refusal-of-service policies and comply with liquor law requirements.
VENUE & MANAGEMENT LIABILITY
Management oversight & operational negligence
Analysis of whether ownership and management maintained adequate policies, supervision and accountability structures to prevent foreseeable overservice incidents.
AGE VERIFICATION
Age verification failures & underage service
Review of venue protocols, staff conduct and compliance documentation related to age verification obligations under state liquor control law.
PRODUCTION & INDUSTRY STANDARDS
Brewery, taproom & craft beverage operations
Expert analysis of production brewery and taproom operations, distribution compliance, beverage industry standards and craft beverage service practices.
PREMISES LIABILITY
Standard operating procedure failures
Review of venue SOPs, incident documentation, service policies and staff conduct records against applicable industry standards and best practices.
HOW I WORK
Direct. Thorough. Built to hold up in court
I work directly with retaining counsel from initial case review through testimony. My reports are grounded in operational reality — not just regulatory theory — because I’ve enforced these standards myself as a venue owner.
01
Standards analysis
I review case materials, identify the relevant service standards and give you an honest assessment of whether the facts support engagement — typically within a few business days.
02
Standards analysis
Comparison of staff conduct, service policies and venue operations against applicable dram shop law, industry best practices and compliance obligations.
03
Written expert opinion
A clear, well-documented report with findings and methodology behind each conclusion — written to withstand Daubert challenge.
04
Deposition & testimony
Composed, credible testimony that translates operational and regulatory complexity into plain language for judges and juries.
CREDENTIALS & BACKGROUND
My qualifications
Certifications & training
- TIPS Certified — Training for Intervention ProcedureS, recognized industry standard for responsible alcohol service and intoxication intervention
- SafeServ Certified — food and alcohol safety certification covering responsible service standards
- BJCP Certified Beer Judge — Beer Judge Certification Program, reflecting deep technical grounding in production standards and craft beverage industry norms
- Organized and hosted annual ID verification training under Florida ATF oversight — open to bars and restaurants across the Tallahassee market
- Listed expert witness — SEAK Expert Witness Directory
Professional experience
- Founder & President, GrassLands Brewing Company (2014–2019) — built and operated a licensed craft brewery and taproom, managing production, front-of-house service and a team of up to 15
- Developed and executed standard operating procedures, staff training programs and regulatory compliance frameworks across all aspects of beverage production and alcohol service
- Direct experience with intoxication recognition, refusal-of-service implementation, age verification compliance and management oversight in a licensed venue
- Ed.S., Education Policy & Program Evaluation — Florida State University · Ed.D. candidate, University of North Florida (expected 2027)
- CEO & Co-Founder, Verdant Synergies Consulting — strategic advisory and expert witness practice
Ready to discuss your case?
I accept engagements nationally for plaintiff and defense counsel. Reach out directly to assess fit, availability and next steps.
gabe@verdantsynergies.com · (904) 729-1399