The Dallas-based Twin Peaks Corporation has filed a lawsuit naming the Waco franchisee in connection with the gun battle on May 17 at the local restaurant that left nine bikers dead, 18 injured and more than 170 in custody.
A Dallas television station says the company is seeking $100,000 in damages and reserves the right "to seek any other appropriate monetary relief after discovery (is complete)."
The lawsuit says days before the May 17 shootout, the local franchisee agreed with the corporate office to uphold a list of priorities "implementing proper security measures to ensure the safety of the Waco restaurant's guests and team members during the event."
The lawsuit also says the local franchisee demanded police leave the property on the day of the event and just prior to the shootings.
Twin Peaks corporate office says the lawsuit reflects the company's promise to protect its customers and employees.
"Twin Peaks will always be grateful to the officers who risked their lives in Waco to protect the public."
The lawsuit filed Thursday in Dallas is the second filed against the Waco establishment's owners.
The first, filed May 21 by Houston's Buzbee law firm, along with its co-counsel, former state District Judge Bret Griffin, names the parent company of the Twin Peaks Restaurant chain.
That lawsuit alleges that the neighboring Don Carlos restaurant, through no fault of its own, was forced to close its doors during the investigation that ensued after the shooting, most of which happened in the parking lot between the two restaurants.
Anthony G. Buzbee told News 10 in a telephone interview last week his client "lost several days of revenue," which he said could not yet be calculated.
"Ever since that place (Twin Peaks) opened they gave Don Carlos fits," he said.
An attempt to contact the corporate offices for Twin Peaks in Dallas was unsuccessful and a message left for the office was not returned.
A telephone number for Peaktastic Beverage, LLC, could not be found.
The lawsuit says Don Carlos was unable to serve customers and do its regular business from mid-day May 17 through May 20.
The lawsuit asserts that "Peaktastic Beverage LLC, the owner of the Twin Peaks franchise and its franchisor, were grossly negligent in operating the franchise which ultimately lead to its client incurring damages."
The lawsuit also alleges Twin Peaks's corporate office was negligent by encouraging restaurants to host motorcycle gangs for special events at the restaurant, and "Twin Peaks routinely and repeatedly ignored the warnings of law enforcement agents solely for the sake of profit."
"Twin Peaks' (actions) involved an extreme degree of risk considering the probability and magnitude of the potential harm to others," the lawsuit claims.
"Additionally, Twin Peaks' greed endangered the lives of hundreds of people and hamstrung neighboring business's ability to serve patrons."
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