Weeks v. Princeton's
Weeks v. Princeton's
Concurring Opinion
See my special concurrence in James v. Brewton MotelManagement, Inc.,
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from the dismissal of a complaint filed by Howard Weeks; his wife, Molly; and their minor daughters, Allison and Heather, against Princeton's, a Corporation ("Princeton's"). Princeton's operates a lounge that serves alcoholic beverages. The Weekses filed their complaint after Princeton's allegedly continued to sell alcoholic beverages to Howard after he had become obviously intoxicated, and then ejected him from the lounge. While driving home, Howard had a one-car accident and was injured.
The majority of the counts in the complaint were asserted by Howard individually. They consisted of claims of the tort of outrage, breach of an implied contract,1 and a cause of action pursuant to Ala. Code 1975, §
The trial court dismissed Molly, Heather, and Allison's Dram Shop Act claims, implicitly holding that they were not protected parties under the Act and thus had no cause of action. This Court has this date addressed the question whether an intoxicated person's "wife, child, [or] parent" is a protected party under the Act and is thus entitled to bring an action against a liquor supplier; see James v. Brewton MotelManagement, Inc.,
Howard claimed damages for the injuries that he contends resulted from the defendant's violation of the Act. However, as this Court noted in Maples v. Chinese Palace, Inc.,
For the reasons stated above, that portion of the judgment dismissing each of Howard's claims is affirmed. However, that portion dismissing the Dram Shop Act claims asserted by Molly, Allison, and Heather is reversed, and this cause is remanded.
AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED.
HORNSBY, C.J., and MADDOX, JONES, SHORES, ADAMS and STEAGALL, JJ., concur.
HOUSTON, J., concurs specially.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Molly Weeks v. Princeton's, a Corporation.
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published