Talk about a bum steer: A Houston court has tossed a lawsuit against an Austin bar – and its mechanical bull.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Rebels Honky Tonk in downtown Austin prevailed in court case brought by a customer, Revel Thom, who was tossed from the bar’s mechanical bull in 2010, fracturing his vertebrae:
Although Thom suffered back pain four to five years before he rode the bull, he said nothing about his condition to the operator, according to the appellate court ruling. He rode the bull until he was thrown off, resulting in the fracture of the T-12 and L-1 vertebrae, court documents state. The trial judge granted Rebels Honky Tonk's request for summary judgment - a court ruling to end the case before it went to trial. The bar asked for summary judgment because Thom had signed a release before riding the bull, documents state. Thom appealed, saying, among other things, that the release was inconspicuous. The court ruling, however, said the title of the release, "Participant agreement, release and assumption of risk," left little doubt about its purpose.
The Chronicle reports that Thom may seek a rehearing of the case. Below, amateur video an unrelated bull-session at Rebels Honky Tonk.
