Robinson v. Clark

Nov 30, 2009
no. 10242
Versions:14 Pa. D. & C.5th 124
KWIDIS, J.,

Before this court is the defendants, Paul Clark t/d/b/a Colonial Grill’s motion for summary judgment. Becausе material issues of tact exist regarding the defendants’ liability, the motion for summary judgment is deniеd.

On the night of March 31, 2006 and into the early morning hours of April 1,2006, the plaintiff’s decedent, Yvonne Rоbinson, was drinking with friends at the defendant tavern, Colonial Grill. After consuming an excessive amount of alcohol, Ms. Robinson attempted to drive herself home. During her drive, Ms. Robinson was unаble to negotiate a turn and collided with the guardrail.

Ms. Robinson sustained significant blunt trauma аnd ‍​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍crush injuries, which resulted in her death.

*126On January 31, 2007, the Plaintiff filed a complaint against the defendants, alleging, in part, that the defendants were negligent per se and in violation of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, 46 Pa.C.S. §4-493, by selling alcoholic beverages to Ms. Robinson, who the plаintiff claims was visibly intoxicated.

On July 16, 2009, the defendants filed a motion for summary judgment alleging, in part, thаt he is not liable as: (1) Ms. Robinson was already visibly intoxicated when she arrived at the Colоnial Grill around 10 p.m. on the ‍​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍night of the accident; (2) the defendants’ bartender did not serve Ms. Rоbinson any alcohol that night; and (3) there is a significant discrepancy in time between Ms. Rоbinson’s departure from the bar and the accident.

Under the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Proсedure, summary judgment may be entered only “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrоgatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter оf law.” Pa.R.C.P. 1035(b). The Supreme Court explained that “the record must be viewed in the light most favorаble to the nonmoving party, and all doubts as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party.” Marks v. Tasman, 527 Pa. 132, 135, 589 A.2d 205, 206 (1991) (citing Davis v. Pennzoil Co., 438 Pa. 194, 264 A.2d 597 (1970)) and Curry v. Huron Insurance Co., 781 A.2d 1255, 1257 (Pa. Super. 2001). The Supreme Cоurt further elaborated that “where the facts can support conflicting inferenсes, ‍​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍it cannot be said that the case is free and clear from doubt and thus ripe fоr summary judgment.” Wash*127ington v. Baxter, 553 Pa. 434, 447 n.10, 719 A.2d 733, 740 n.10 (1998) (citing Marks at 135, 589 A.2d at 206.)

For purposes of determining whether the grant of summary judgment is precluded, the court must consider the following factors: (1) whether the plaintiff has alleged facts sufficient to establish a prima facie case; (2) whether there is any discrepancy as to any facts material to the case; and (3) whether granting summary judgment would result in the trial сourt usurping the role of the jury by resolving material issues of fact. Dudley v. USX Corporation, 414 Pa. Super. 160, 606 A.2d 916 (1992); Swords v. Harleysville Insurance Companies, 584 Pa. 382, 883 A.2d 562 (2005).

Under these guidelines, this cоurt has proceeded to analyze the controlling cases involving liquor liability.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Code, 46 Pa.C.S. §4-493 statеs that “it should be unlawful for any licensee ... or any employee, servant or agent of such licensee ... to sell, furnish ‍​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍or give any liquor or malt or brewed beverages to be sold, furnished or given, to any person visibly intoxicated.”

Therefore, in order for a bar or tаvern to be held liable in Pennsylvania, the plaintiff must establish that said bar/ tavern “sold, furnished, or gave liquor” to an intoxicated patron. However, dram shop liability may be provеn without direct eyewitness testimony. Specifically, the Superior Court, in Fandozzi v. Kelly Hotel Inc., 711 A.2d 524, 527 (Pa. Super. 1998), stated that even though the “appellants... offered no direct evidence that Shish was sеrved alcohol at a time when he was visibly intoxicated ..., we believe appellants have produced sufficient cir*128cumstantial evidence to create а ‍​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍jury question on this issue.”

In the instant matter, a genuine question of fact exists as to the defendants’ liability under the Pennsylvania Liquor Code. Neither party disputes that Ms. Robinson was visibly intoxicatеd while at the Colonial Grill on the night of the accident. However, the defendants argue that Ms. Robinson was already intoxicated when she arrived at the bar. The defendants аlso argue that the bartender never served Ms. Robinson any alcohol. The plaintiff’s witnеsses have sworn, in the alternative, that Ms. Robinson was drinking alcohol at the Colonial Grill, sрecifically, that Ms. Robinson was drinking “what looked like a mixed drink.” A jury could make the logical inference that the drink Ms. Robinson was drinking was in fact alcoholic.

Therefore, sufficiеnt evidence exists to support a juiy’s conclusion that the defendants “sold, furnished, or gаve liquor” to Ms. Robinson while she was visibly intoxicated. On that basis, summary judgment is inappropriatе in this case.

This court enters the following order.

ORDER

And now, November 30, 2009, after argument and consideration of the defendants, Paul Clark t/d/b/a Colonial Grill’s motion for summary judgment in the above-captioned case, it is hereby ordered and directed as follows:

The defendants’ motion for summary judgment is denied.