Qualifications
Curriculum Vitae: Preston Rideout
Roles, consulting practice, expert-witness experience, certifications, publications, and education.
Preston Rideout · (662) 466-6045 · prestonrideoutexpertwitness.com · CEO, Rideout Hospitality Consulting
Summary
Hospitality operator and consultant with a career that began behind the bar in 1996 and includes bar management, nightclub general management, and multi-unit bar-operations leadership in Las Vegas, Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Washington, DC. CEO of Rideout Hospitality Consulting since 2010, advising operators in the United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas. Holds 112 alcohol-service certifications across 48 states and the District of Columbia. Retained as an expert witness by plaintiff and defense counsel in Dram Shop, liquor-liability, alcohol-service, bar, nightclub, restaurant, and hospitality matters; 20 listed deposition and trial appearances in 11 states, 2021–2026.
Expert-witness experience
20Matters with deposition or trial testimony
14 / 6Plaintiff / defense retentions
11States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas
2Trial appearances; 18 depositions
Complete case list with courts, retaining counsel, party, and dates: Prior Testimony.
Consulting
- 2010 – PresentRideout Hospitality Consulting — CEO · United States, Mexico, and Bahamas
Client list
- Bar Rescue (Spike TV)
- Absinthe, Memphis, TN
- Alluvian Hotel, Greenwood, MS
- Ambhar, Las Vegas, NV
- B.B. King’s, Memphis, TN
- B.B. King’s, Montgomery, AL
- B.B. King’s, New Orleans, LA
- Babalu, Atlanta, GA
- Babalu, Birmingham, AL
- Babalu, Chapel Hill, NC
- Babalu, Charlotte, NC
- Babalu, Jackson, MS
- Babalu, Lexington, KY
- Babalu, Memphis, TN
- Babalu, Nashville, TN
- Babalu, Raleigh, NC
- Carlos & Charlie’s, Las Vegas, NV
- Cannery, Nashville, TN
- Collegiate Hotel, Auburn, AL
- Crusen’s, East Peoria, IL
- Daiquiri Factory, Nassau, Bahamas
- Eastside, Portland, OR
- Gardenia’s, Greenwood, MS
- High Watt, Nashville, TN
- Hotel Fenix, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Itta Bena, Memphis, TN
- Itta Bena, Montgomery, AL
- Itta Bena, Orlando, FL
- Lafayette’s, Memphis, TN
- Lafayette’s, Orlando, FL
- Longshot’s, Sterling, IL
- Lucille’s, Montgomery, AL
- Memphian Hotel, Memphis, TN
- Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN
- Millennium Hotel, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Park City Live, Park City, UT
- Pink Shell, Fort Myers, FL
- The Pocket, Memphis, TN
- Red Rock, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Work history
- 2014 – 2016Luke’s Icehouse — Director of Bar Operations · Texas
- 2013 – 2014Electric Cowboy — Director of Nightlife · Kentucky / Missouri
- Summer 2012Rehab Pool Party — Bar Manager · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2010 – 2011Eve Nightclub — General Manager · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2008 – 2010LAX Nightclub — Bartender / Multi-Unit AGM · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2008 – 2010Noir Bar — Bartender / Multi-Unit AGM · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2008 – 2010Pure Nightclub — Bartender / Multi-Unit AGM · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2008 – 2010Pussycat Dolls Lounge — Bartender / Multi-Unit AGM · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2008 – 2010Venus Pool Club — Bartender / Multi-Unit AGM · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2008 – 2010Audigier Nightclub — Bartender / Bar Manager · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2004 – 2008Tangerine Nightclub — Bartender / Bar Manager · Las Vegas, Nevada
- 2004Coyote Ugly — Bar Manager · Washington, DC / Las Vegas, Nevada
- 1996 – 2003The Gin — Bartender / Bar Manager · Oxford, Mississippi
Alcohol safety certifications
112 seller-server, responsible-vendor, and alcohol-management certifications across 49 jurisdictions (48 states and the District of Columbia), itemized.
- Alabama — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Alabama — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Alaska — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Arizona — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Arizona — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Arkansas — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Arkansas — Seller Server Training Serving Alcohol
- Arkansas — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- California — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Colorado — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Connecticut — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Connecticut — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Connecticut — Seller Server Training Serving Alcohol
- Delaware — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Florida — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Florida — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Florida — Alcohol Seller Server Classes (SSC)
- Florida — Seller Server Training Serving Alcohol
- Florida — Responsible Vendor American Safety Council
- Florida — Responsible Vendor Responsible Training
- Florida — Responsible Vendor Alcohol New Hire
- Florida — Responsible Vendor Alcohol Manager
- Florida — Responsible Vendor Alcohol Habitual Drunkard
- Florida — Responsible Vendor Alcohol ID Checking
- Florida — Responsible Vendor Alcohol “BAC”
- Georgia — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Georgia — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Georgia — Seller Server Training Serving Alcohol
- Idaho — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Idaho — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Illinois — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Illinois — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Illinois — Responsible Vendor Training (BASSET)
- Indiana — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Indiana — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Iowa — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Iowa — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Kansas — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Kentucky — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Kentucky — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Louisiana — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Louisiana — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Maine — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Maine — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Maryland — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Maryland — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Massachusetts — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Massachusetts — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Michigan — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Michigan — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Michigan — Responsible Vendor American Safety Council
- Minnesota — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Minnesota — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Mississippi — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Mississippi — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Missouri — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Missouri — Alcohol Responsibility Training (SMART)
- Missouri — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Montana — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Montana — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Nebraska — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Nebraska — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Nevada — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- New Hampshire — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- New Hampshire — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- New Jersey — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- New Jersey — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- New Mexico — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- New Mexico — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- New York — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- New York — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- New York — State Liquor Authority Alcohol Training (ATAP)
- New York — Responsible Vendor American Safety Council
- North Carolina — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- North Carolina — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- North Dakota — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- North Dakota — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Ohio — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Ohio — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Ohio — Alcohol Seller Server Classes (SSC)
- Oklahoma — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Oklahoma — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Oklahoma — Responsible Vendor Training (ABLE)
- Oregon — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Oregon — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Pennsylvania — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Pennsylvania — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Rhode Island — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Rhode Island — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- South Carolina — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- South Carolina — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- South Dakota — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- South Dakota — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Tennessee — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Tennessee — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Texas — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Texas — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Texas — Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC)
- Texas — Responsible Beverage Training (TABC)
- Utah — Responsible Alcohol Server (DABS)
- Utah — Responsible Vendor American Safety Council
- Vermont — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Vermont — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Virginia — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Virginia — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Washington DC — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- West Virginia — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- West Virginia — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Wisconsin — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Wyoming — Alcohol Awareness Certification Experts
- Wyoming — Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)
- Wyoming — Training For Intervention Procedures (TIPS)
Publications
Education
University of Mississippi — B.A., English / Political Science (2000)
Prior testimony
| Case | Court | Retained by | Party | Testimony | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lockhart v. CTB Investors, LLC, d/b/a PBR Big Sky Cowboy Bar, Entertainment Consulting International, LLC, The Cordish Companies, Inc., Entertainment Holdings, LLLC, Brent Ault and Erik Storms | Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, at Kansas City | Mike Ketchmark | Plaintiff | Deposition | April 17, 2026 |
| Zachary Ghowiba v. James Nash, Jan Nash and Erik Nash | Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Seminole County, Florida | Ryan Will | Plaintiff | Deposition | January 23, 2026 |
| Todd M. Lopez, as Personal Representative of the Wrongful Death Estate of Lawrence Anzures, v. OL Texas Restaurants, LLC, FedSec Services, LLT, Michael Romero, Ashlee Vargas, and Haydee Lucas | State of New Mexico, County of Santa Fe, Judicial District Court | Chris Begeman | Defendant | Deposition | October 16, 2025 |
| Eloise Sandoz, Individually and as Next Friend of Joe Palacios, v. Mathew Martinez | District Court, 345th Judicial District, Bexar County, Texas | Tim Maloney | Plaintiff | Deposition | August 11, 2025 |
| Paulo A. Ribeiro v. Vision’s d/b/a Peppermint Hippo | Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas, Civil Division | Andy Taylor | Plaintiff | Deposition | October 21, 2024 |
| Kelly Prow v. Jack McDowell Post No. 5484, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Inc., and Jarrod Jones, and Jesse Lowe | Webster Circuit Court, Division One, Kentucky | Davis Hunter | Plaintiff | Deposition | August 16, 2024 |
| Gerald D. Fredrickson v. Dennis Leporin, et al. | Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri | Tim Morgan | Plaintiff | Deposition | May 8, 2024 |
| Karen Boots v. Rouss Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Gabriel’s Café; Chad Wayne Hughes; TP Hoover, LLC, d/b/a Twin Peaks | Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama | Trey Traylor | Plaintiff | Deposition | March 22, 2024 |
| Frency Moore v. Billy Ray Bowman Jr. | Florida’s First Judicial Circuit Court, Escambia County | Joe Zarzaur | Plaintiff | Deposition | March 14, 2024 |
| Ruth Halpine v. Gulf Shores Tacky Jack’s, LLC | Circuit Court of Baldwin County, Alabama | Howard Glick | Defendant | Deposition | December 14, 2023 |
| Samuel Moore, Victor Sambade v. Laisses Les Bons Temps Rouler, Inc., d/b/a Zydeco | Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama | Jason Yearout | Plaintiff | Deposition | November 30, 2023 |
| Frenrick Lamont Cathey, Jessaciah A. Peres, and Daniel Tharp v. Mario Eduardo Martinez Buenrostro and Kalahari Resorts | District Court of Travis County, Texas | Nicholas Kotonias | Plaintiff | Deposition | September 11, 2023 |
| Sandra Cortez v. TRT Holdings, Inc., d/b/a Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, Omni Hotels Management Corporation; Edward Moreno and Leticia Sandoval | Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles, Central District | Carmen Aguado | Defendant | Deposition | August 16, 2023 |
| The Estate of Corey Aufiero v. David L. Stewart, Raiser LLC, Perle Nightclub and Lounge | Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Monmouth County | Michael Camarinos | Defendant | Deposition | August 7, 2023 |
| Sonya Gore, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Helen Gore, v. Whiskey Joe’s | Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County, Florida | Peter Oppenheimer | Defendant | Deposition | November 15, 2022 |
| Allan Leffew v. Midwest Gaming d/b/a Rivers Casino | Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Law Division | Adam Ingber | Plaintiff | Deposition | October 4, 2022 |
| Smith v. Clarke Fish House | Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, in and for Duval County, Florida | Lawrence Najem | Defendant | Deposition | August 22, 2022 |
| Jeff Scarborough v. Chateau Nightclub LLC, d/b/a The Beer Parl | District of Nevada, Clark County, Nevada | Christian Smith | Plaintiff | Deposition | June 30, 2022 |
| Jack C. Massey v. Retreat at Gainesville, LLC | Circuit Court, Eighth Judicial Circuit, in and for Alachua County, Florida | Jamie Holland | Plaintiff | Trial | April 22, 2022 |
| Jarnetta Glen v. Imani Monique Willis; 300 Bar, LLC; Black Market Bar & Grill | Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama | Rodney Bargainer | Plaintiff | Trial | November 5, 2021 |
Published directory listings and hosted CV
- SEAK 2026 Expert Witness Directory — listed under Dram Shop & Alcohol Services / Hotel & Restaurant.
- 2026 Yearbook of Experts (ExpertClick) — indexed under Dram Shop Expert, Dram Shop Testimony, and Dram Shop Witness.
- The Bar Starts Here bartender training manual — co-authored by Preston Rideout and Ryan Dahlstrom, hosted by The Bar Experts.
- The Org profile — organizational profile connecting Preston’s roles with Dram Shop Experts and Rideout Hospitality.
Discuss a case with Preston Rideout
Call (662) 466-6045 or request a conflict check. Preston accepts plaintiff and defense engagements in every state.