Baker v. Beckwith
Baker v. Beckwith
Opinion of the Court
Several errors are assigned as grounds for the reversal of the judgment of the court of common pleas. We find it necessary to consider hut one. The demurrer to the petition involved the question of the sufficiency of the facts stated to warrant a recovery in the action. It does aiot appear from the facts stated in the petition that the sale of the intoxicating liquors causing the intoxication resulting in the injury to the defendant, involved a violation of' any of the criminal provisions of the statute providing against the evils resulting from the sale of intoxicating liquors (2 S. & C. 1431), nor of any other statute treating of the same subject-matter, and subsequently passed by the legislature. We are, therefore, called upon to determine whether a sale of intoxicating liquors, producing intoxication, by reason of which an injury to person, property, or means of support, results to some person of the classes mentioned in section seven, as amended April 18, 1870 (67 Ohio L. 102), of the act first above mentioned, authorizes a.
The section, as amended, omits the words “ contrary to this act,” and confers the right of action “severally or jointly against any person or persons who shall, by selling •or giving intoxicating liquors, have caused the intoxication, in whole or in part, of such person or persons.” It is contended by the defendant that the change in the phraseology • of the two sections evinces an intention upon the part of the legislature to change the meaning and effect of the .statute, and to enlarge the grounds of liability in the respect of creating and giving a right of action for an injury • of the kind made actionable by the statute, caused by a sale of intoxicating liquors not criminal in itself. A careful consideration of the language of this section in connection with the other sections of the same act, and with the provisions of other acts passed subsequently to the original .act of 1854, and having a like purpose and object, to provide against the evils resulting from the sale and use of intoxicating liquors, will show that the omission of the words “contrary to this act,” is in entire harmony with an intention still to require the sale- or the giving away to be unlawful. Had these words been retained in the section as .amended, the civil liability resulting from the unlawful sale would have been limited to sales in violation of the original .act. Contrary to this act is the omitted language; and the .-act referred to is the act of 1854 as amended. A violation
The statute declaring the civil liability of the seller, also declares “ and the owner of, lessee, or person or persons renting or leasing any building or premises, having knowledge that intoxicating liquors are to be sold therein, in violation of law, or having leased the same for other purposes, shall knowingly permit intoxicating liquors to be so sold, in such building, or premises, that have caused the intoxication, in whole or in part, of such person or persons, shall be liable severally or jointly, with the person or persons selling or giving intoxicating liquors aforesaid, . . . and the unlawful sale or giving away of intoxicating liquors, shall work a forfeiture of all rights of the lessee or tenant, under any lease or contract of rent upon premises where such unlawful sale or giving away shall take place.” The word unlawful, as here used, qualifies and limits both the word “ sale ” and the words “ giving away ; ” for it will hardly be claimed that the legislature would require an unlawful sale, as a condition to the right of forfeiture, and still confer the right, where there had been a mere giving away; and here two things are made indispensably prerequisite to such liability for the injury resulting from the sale.
In the first place, he must have leased the premises with knowledge that intoxicating liquors were to be sold therein in violation of law; or, in the second place, where, having leased the premises for other purposes, and having acquired knowledge that intoxicating liquors are being sold therein, in violation of law, he must permit it, by not availiug himself of the right, given by the statute, to forfeit the lease. In either of these cases, he is liable to a several action, and also, to a joint action, and joint judgment with the seller. But unless one of these grounds exists, he is not liable, •either severally or jointly, for such unlawful sale. His lia
If the mere act of selling or giving away intoxicating liquors,renders the seller liable for all consequences resulting from intoxication produced by the liquors so sold or given away, then intoxicating liquors sold for medicinal or mechanical purposes, and diverted from their intended use, might subject the seller to heavy damages for an act not intended to evade or violate the provisions of the statute. Such a construction of the statute would require the seller to become bound for the good behavior of the buyer, and make him a guarantor that the liquors sold should not cause intoxication, in whole or in part, from which an injury would result. But where the sale or giving away is in violation ..of law, whether of the act of 1854, or of acts subsequently
One who unlawfully sells intoxicating liquors, causing-intoxication in part, is none the less liable because the-liquor sold by others, which, with those sold by him, and. which together effected complete intoxication, Were not unlawfully sold. His act being unlawful, it is irrelevant upon-the question of his liability, whether some one else is also-liable or not. It follows that the judgment of the court of common pleas must be reversed, the demurrer to the petition sustained, and the cause remanded for further proceedings..
Judgment accordingly.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- George Baker and Jacob Sickengor v. Mary Beckwith
- Cited By
- 10 cases
- Status
- Published