Richmond v. Shickler

| Iowa | Dec 17, 1881

Seevers, J.

i. intoxiliquors? ncages: joint and several liability. It is stated in the petition that the defendant Shickler, sold plaintiff’s husband “wine, beer and ale, from time to time” for the period of two years last past, “causing the oft and repeated intoxication” of her said husband. The evidence tended to support the allegations of the petition and also to show that during said time the plaintiff’s husband procured intoxicating liquors of other persons which contributed to produce the intoxication of which the plaintiff complains. The court instructed the jury as follows:

“6. If, therefore, under the instructions above given, yon find the plaintiff’entitled to recover damages against the defendant, it will not be necessary for her to show that the defendant sold to her husband all the beer which he used, and which might produce his intoxication. If the defendant sold beer to Richmond, which together with other beer sold him by others, produced his intoxication, and the plaintiff was injured thereby, she will be entitled to recover from the defendant the whole damage caused by such fits of intoxication as he aided to produce. But if she has sustained damage from the intoxication of her liusband, which intoxication was caused by beer purchased wholly of others than the defeudant, then she will not be entitled to recover for such damage.”

It was held in Woolheather v. Risley, 38 Iowa, 486" court="Iowa" date_filed="1874-06-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/woolheather-v-risley-7095998?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7095998">38 Iowa, 486, when intoxicating liquors were procured of different persons, during the same period of time, a recovery could be had of any one of such persons who contributed to the intoxication produced by the liquors so furnished. It was not determined in that case that one of such persons was liable for the whole damages caused by the intoxication to which several persons contributed. In Ennis v. Shiley, 47 Iowa, 552" court="Iowa" date_filed="1877-12-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/ennis-v-shiley-7097705?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7097705">47 Iowa, 552, and in Engleken v. Webber, Id., 558, it was held that whoever contributes to the habit of intoxication is only liable for the damages caused by his own acts.

In Kearney v. Fitzgerald, 43 Iowa, 580" court="Iowa" date_filed="1876-06-16" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/kearney-v-fitzgerald-7096932?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7096932">43 Iowa, 580, it was held that whoever contributes to a single act of intoxication, whereby distinct damages are caused, is a joint wrong-doer and is liable for the whole damages. See also La France v. Krayer, 42 Iowa, 143" court="Iowa" date_filed="1875-12-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/la-france-v-krayer-7096638?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7096638">42 Iowa, 143; Jewett v. Wanshura, 43 Id., 574, and Hitchner v. Ehlers, 44 Iowa, 40" court="Iowa" date_filed="1876-09-20" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/hitchner-v-ehlers-7096970?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7096970">44 Iowa, 40.

The instruction under consideration directs the jury that if the defendant sold the plaintiff’s husband beer which caused “fits of intoxication,” to which others contributed, he was liable for all the damages caused thereby. By the use of the words ‘fits of intoxication,” the court no doubt meant repeated or different acts of that character. It may be when several different persons contribute to distinct acts of intoxication they would be joint wrong-doers and each would be liable for the whole damages. But as no such case is presented by the record before us, such question is not determined.

The correctness of the instruction must be determined by reference to the allegations of the petition and evidence introduced on the trial. The petition does not allege there was any specific act or acts of intoxication to which all the persons from whom the plaintiff’s husband obtained liquor contributed, and the evidence tended to show he was in the habit of becoming intoxicated for the period of seventeen years preceding the trial, and that during the period named in the petition he procured liquor from any person who would let him have it. Under such circumstances the persons furnishing the liquor cannot be deemed joint wrong-doers, but each are severally liable for the damages caused by his own acts. The instructions under consideration was therefore erroneous.

2.__:_: surety ¿n II. The defendant Shiekler was licensed by the incorporated town of State Center to sell wine, beer and ale. Before he could obtain such license he was required and he gave a bond with the defendant Bader as his surety, which was conditioned among other things that defendants would “pay any damage any person may sustain, or which may result from the drinking of any wine or beer, or any liquor got or procured at his saloon or place of business.” The court instructed the jury that both defendants were liable under the statute for exemplary damages. This is said to be erroneous as to the defendant Bader. But we think Bader is liable under the conditions of the bond for any and all damages the plaintiff is entitled to recover not exceeding the penalty of the bond.

On its face the bond is unlimited as to time and there was no evidence introduced on the trial tending to show for what period of time the license was issued. The appellants insist that all or some of the acts of intoxication, for which damages are claimed, were caused either before the bond was given or after all liability thereunder had ceased. We are unable to say in the state of the record that the court erred in giving the instruction aforesaid.

III. We are not entirely agreed as to whether the declarations of Hall were admissible, but as the plaintiff can obviate the objection on the re-trial by asking Hall whether he made such declaration, we deem it best not to determine the question presented at this time. There are other errors discussed by counsel but as they will not likely arise on the retrial it is not deemed necessary to determine them.

Reversed.