Inverness brewery charged with administrative infractions after employee's death

Dallas Lewis predicted he would die at work just a couple of months before he accidentally — and fatally — fell two storeys off the roof at Route 19 Brewing in Inverness, N.S., according to his widow.

The company's brewmaster was found by co-workers on the ground next to the building late in the evening on July 13, 2023, and was later pronounced dead at the nearby hospital.

Testifying at a two-day Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearing earlier this week in Port Hood, Inverness County, Erinn Lewis said her 48-year-old husband had tried twice to quit his job, but she said he was pressured into staying on.

After his first attempt to resign last year he told his mother "that if he continued to stay with Route 19 he would die," Lewis said. "He then texted that to me."

That text was entered into evidence at the hearing, which included seven witnesses for Service Nova Scotia's alcohol, gaming, fuel and tobacco division and two on behalf of Route 19.

According to the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service, the brewmaster had a blood-alcohol concentration of .276 at the time of his death, which is more than three times the legal driving limit of .08.

Administrative infractions alleged

Route 19 is charged with three administrative infractions of liquor licensing regulations, after RCMP and the Department of Labour determined there were no criminal charges or violations of workplace health and safety laws in Lewis's death.

The allegations by the alcohol regulator include allowing an employee to be intoxicated on the job, overserving an intoxicated person and not having control of the premises.

Erinn Lewis said her husband had a drinking problem and that his employers knew about it.

She also said the brewmaster had fallen down some stairs inside the brewery a few months before his death, allegedly after drinking with Route 19 co-owner Wayne Gillis.

She said her concern for her husband was "exhaustion and overworking."

Lewis said her husband, who was the lone full-time employee of the brewery, was made to feel guilty. She said he was told that if he left he could put all the others in the restaurant out of work if there was no product to sell.

She has also launched a lawsuit against the brewery, but declined an interview request.

"I will try my best to get justice for Dallas in hopes that at that point I can turn this tragedy into something beautiful," Lewis told the review board hearing.

The restaurant manager and bartender who were on duty the night Lewis died testified that he had not shown any signs of impairment.

However, when reviewing security camera footage, they acknowledged that Lewis could be seen behind the bar pouring drinks, which was against company policy, and was seen delivering drinks to a table that included Gillis and several other people.

They also said other footage appeared to show Lewis staggering and dancing, which was described as abnormal behaviour.

Erinn Lewis said her husband was known as a hard worker and had told her he had to stay late at Route 19 to finish up some work.

'That wasn't my Dallas'

His widow, who described herself as a staunch opponent of drinking and especially impaired driving, said it broke her heart to know Lewis had died due to alcohol.

"That wasn't my Dallas," she said. "The man on that video, he was inebriated."

None of the staff could say whether Lewis was actually working the night he died because he made his own schedule and did not punch a clock.

However, he was seen on video helping to fix a dishwasher and taking some bar patrons into the brewery for a brief tour, which was one of his occasional duties.

Gillis testified that no one told him Lewis had a drinking problem and said he did not authorize or order Lewis to conduct a tour that night.

However, he said, a partner of his in another business who was at the table dared Lewis to give the tour and offered him $20 to do it.

Gillis also said if he had seen Lewis pouring drinks behind the bar, he would have had a talk with him because that's not allowed.

Gillis said he only saw Lewis drink two or three beers that night, but couldn't say whether the brewmaster had consumed alcohol elsewhere.

"Buddy, I'm saying he could have drank the ocean all day for all I know out back," Gillis said.

Route 19 denies infractions

Brad Proctor, lawyer for Route 19, said his clients do not believe there were any infractions.

Duane Eddy, lead counsel for the province's alcohol and gaming division, said Lewis was seen on video performing some work duties.

He also said Lewis's blood-alcohol level, combined with video evidence, proved he was intoxicated.

Eddy also said the fact that Lewis was behind the bar pouring drinks proved management did not have control of the premises.

Suspension or cancelling of a licence are the only penalties under the liquor licensing regulations, with suspensions ranging from a couple of days up to three months.

The utility and review board is taking written submissions on proposed penalties, if any, and is expected to make a decision on the case within 90 days of final submissions from lawyers, which are expected in December.