State Will Hear Danvers Bar's Appeal On March 7

DANVERS, MA -- The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission will hear an appeal from the Osborn Tavern of the liquor license suspension handed down by the Danvers Select Board on March 7 at 1:30 pm at its headquarters in Boston. The three-day suspension under appeal was handed down in December after a series of incidents at the bar.

In September, selectmen suspended the Osborn's license for one day as the result of a July 4 fight, but agreed to put off the suspension for one year and waive it if the bar did not violate terms of its license in that time frame. But officials said problems continued at the bar.

On Nov. 2 police responded to a report of a fight that was started by a man and woman who were "heavily intoxicated," according to police reports. Then on Nov. 10, police found a man sleeping in his car behind the Osborn because, he told police, he was too drunk to drive home.

Both incidents suggested the bar had over-served customers. The suspensions were approved 4-0, with Selectman Bill Clark abstaining. The September suspension, which stemmed from a July 4 fight where the Osborn's staff did not contact police after having to physically remove a patron who refused to leave. A bar manager suffered a concussion in the altercation.

The troubled tavern's problems extend beyond the alleged liquor license violations. In June, Osborn Tavern LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. According to court documents, the Osborn Tavern has liabilities between $500,000 and $1 million. The case is still pending.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).