D A 0 8

- 0 3 9 9

I N T H E S U P R E M E C O U

R T O F T H E S T

A T E O F M O N T

A N A

2 0 0 9 M T 4 4 0

C A R Y R O H L F S a n d T

E R R A R O H L F S

,

P l a i n t i f f s a n d A p p e l l a n t s

,

v

.

K L E M EN H A G E N

, L L C

, d / b / a S T U M B L E I N

N

,

D e f e n d a n t a n d A

p p e l l e e

.

A P P E A L F R O M : D i s t r i c t C o u r t o f t h e T w e n t y

- F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t

, I n a n d F o r t h e C o u

n t y o f R a v a l l i

, C a

u s e N o

. D V 0 7

- 3 5 5

H o n o r a b l e J a m e s A

. H a y n e s

, P r e s i d i n g J u d g e

C O U N S E L O F R E C O R D :

F o r A p p e l l a n t s :

D a v i d R

. P a o l i ( a r g

u e d )

, J o h n K

u t z m a n

, P a o l i

, L a t i

n o & K u t z m a n

, M i s s o u l a

, M o n t a n a

F o r A p p e l l e e :

P a t r i c k H a g E s t a d ( a r g

u e d )

, C h r i s t o p h e r D e c k e r ( a r g u e d )

, M i l o d r a g o v i c h

, D a l e

, S t e i n b r e n n e r & N y g r e n

, M i s s o u l a

, M o n t a n a

A r g u e d : J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 0 9

S u b m i t t e d : J u n e 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

D e c i d e d : D e c e m b e r 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

F i l e d :

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C l e r k December 23 20092

Justice John Warner delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶ 1 P l a i n t i f

f s C a r y a n d T e r r a R o h l f

s b r o u g h t s u i t a g a i n s t K l e m e n h a g

e n

, L

. L

. C

. , d o i n g

b u s i n e s s a s t h e S t u m

b l e I n n

, t o r e c o v

e r d a m a g e s i n c u r r e d a s t h e r e s u l t o f a n a u t o m o b i l e

a c c i d e n t i n v

o l v i n g a p a t r o n o f t h e S t

u m b l e I n n

. T h e T w e n t y

- F i r s t J

u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t C o u r t

,

L a k e C o u n t y

, g

r a n t e d S t u m

b l e I n n ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m

i s s b a s e d o n a p r o v

i s i o n o f

M o n t a n a ’ s D r a m S h o p A c t

, § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, t h a t r e q u i r e s a c l a i m a n t g i v e n o t i c e t o

t h e p o t e n t i a l d e f e n d a n t o f i n t e n t t o s u e t o w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s o f t h e a l l e g e d f u r n i s h i n g

a l c o h o l t o a n i n

t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n

. T h e R o h l f s a p p e a l

. T h e i s s u e s r a i s e d a r e :

¶ 2 I s s u e 1 : I s § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n p r

o h i b i t e d b y A

r t i c l e V

,

S e c t i o n 1 2

, o f t h e M o n t a

n a C o n s t i t u

t i o n ?

¶ 3 I s s u e 2 : I s § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a s a v i o l a t i o n o f e q u a l

p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l a w r e q u i r e d b y A r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 4

, o f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t

u t i o n ?

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶ 4 O n e e v

e n i n g i n J u n e 2 0 0 6

, J o s e p h W a r r e n l e f t t h e S t u m b l e I n n t a v e r n a f t e r s e v e r a l

h o u r s o f d r i n k i n g

. S h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r

, w h i l e d r i v i n g h i s p i c k

u p t r u c k

, h e c o l l i d e d w i t h a

n

a u t o m o b i l e d r i v

e n b y C a r y R o h l f

s

, c a u s i n g R o h l f

s s e v e r e i n

j u r i e s

. M o n t a

n a H i g h w a y

P a t r o l o f f i c e r s i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e a c c i d e n t o b s e r v e d t h a t W a r r e n s m e l l e d o f a l c o h o l a n d a

t e s t r e v e a l e d t h a t h i s b l o o d a

l c o h o l l e v

e l w a s 0

. 1 4

, i n d i c a t i n g h i s a b i l i t y t o d r i v e w a s

i m p a i r e d b y a l c o h o l

. W a r r e n p l e d g u i l t y t o t h e o f

f e n s e o f n e g

l i g e n t v e h i c u l a r a s s a u l t

.

S t u m b l e I n n d o e s n o t c o n

t e s t i n t h i s a p p e a l t h a t W a r r e n

, a t l e a s t i n p a r t

, t o r t i o u s l y c a u s e d

t h e a c c i d e n

t a n d R o h l f

s ’ r e s u l t i n g i n

j u r i e s

. B o t h t

h e R o h l f s a n d e m

p l o y e e s o f t h e3

S t u m b l e I n n k n e w i m m e d i a t e l y a f

t e r t h e a c c i d e n t t h a

t W a r r e n h a d b e e

n d r i n k i n g a l c o h o l

a t t h a t b a r j u s t b e f

o r e h e c a u s e d t h e a c c i d e

n t

.

¶ 5 A l i t t l e o v

e r a y e a r a f

t e r t h e a c c i d e n t

, i n J

u l y 2 0 0 7

, t h e R o h l f

s f i l e d t h e i r

c o m p l a i n t

, a l l e g i n g S t u m b l e I n n i s l i a b l e t o t

h e m f o r t h e i n j u r i e s c a u s e d b y W a r r e n

b e c a u s e i t s e m

p l o y e e s s e r v

e d a l c o h o l t o h i m s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e a c c i d e n

t w h i l e h e w a s

v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d

, i n v i o l a t i o n o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 3 ) ( b )

, M C A

. S t u m b l e I n n m o v e d t o

d i s m i s s t h e c o m

p l a i n t b a s e d o n § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, t h a t p r o v i d e s :

A c i v i l a c t i o n m a y n o t b e c o m m e n c e d u n d e r t

h i s s e c t i o n a g

a i n s t a p e r s o n

w h o f u r n i s h e d a l c o h o l u

n l e s s t h e p e r s o n b r i n g

i n g t h e c i v i l a c t i o n p r o v

i d e s

n o t i c e o f a n i n t e n t t o f

i l e t h e a c t i o n t o t h e p e r s o n w h o f u r n i s h e d t h e a l c o h o l

b y c e r t i f i e d m a i l w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s f r o m t h e d a t e o f s a l e o r s e r v i c e

. T h e c i v i l

a c t i o n m u s t b e c o m

m e n c e d p u r s u a n t t o t

h i s s e c t i o n w i t h i n 2 y e a r s a f t e r t h e

s a l e o r s e r v i c e

.

¶ 6 I n r e s p o n s e t o t

h e m o t i o n t o d i s m

i s s

, t h e R o h l f

s c o n c e d e t h e y d i d n o t g i v e t h e

n o t i c e r e q u i r e d b y § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, t o S t u m b l e I n n w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s

. T h e R o h l f s

a r g u e d t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t t h a t t h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n m a y n o t b e e n f o r c e d b e c a u s e i t i s

u n c o n s t i t u

t i o n a l s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n a n d v

i o l a t e s t h e i r r i g

h t t o e q u a

l p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l a w

.

T h e D i s t r i c t C o u r

t g r a n t e d t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m

i s s

. O n a p p e a l

, t h e R o h l f s r e i t e r a t e t h e i r

s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n a n d e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n c l a i m s

.

S T A N D A R D S O F R E V I E W

¶ 7 S t a t

u t e s a r e p r e s u m

p t i v e l y c o n s t i t u t i o n a

l

. C i t y o f B i l l i n g s v

. A l b e r t

, 2 0 0 9 M T 6 3

,

¶ 1 1

, 3 4 9 M o n t

. 4 0 0

, 2 0 3 P

. 3 d 8 2 8

. A p e r s o n c h a l l e n g i n g a s t a t u t e ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y

b e a r s t h e b u r d e

n o f p r o v i n g i t u n c o n s t i t u

t i o n a l b e y o n d a r e a s o n a

b l e d o u b t

. E k

l u n d v

.

Wheatland County

, 2 0 0 9 M T 2 3 1

, ¶ 1 4

, 3 5 1 M o n t

. 3 7 0

, 2 1 2 P

. 3 d 2 9 7

. T h e4

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f a s t a t u t e i s a q u e s t i o n o f l a w a n d w e r e v i e w t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s

a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n f o r c o r r e c t n e s s

. O u r r e v i e w o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s i s

p l e n a r y

. City of Billings

, ¶ 1 1

.

¶ 8 T h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r a d i s t r i c t c o u r t p r

o p e r l y g r a n t e d a m o t i o n t o d i s m

i s s i s a

c o n c l u s i o n o f l a w t h a t w e r e v i e w f o r c o r r e c t n e s s

. P u b l i c L a n d s A c c e s s A s s n

. , I n c

. v

.

Jones

, 2 0 0 8 M T 1 2

, ¶ 9

, 3 4 1 M o n t

. 1 1 1

, 1 7 6 P

. 3 d 1 0 0 5

.

D I S C U S S I O N

¶9 Issue 1: Is § 27

- 1

- 7 10(6), MCA, special legislation prohibited by Article V,

S e c t i o n 1 2

, o

f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u t i o n ?

¶ 1 0 T h e M o n t a

n a C o n s t i t u

t i o n p r o v i d e s :

The l egislature shall not pass a special or local act when a general act is, or

can be made, applicable.

Mont. Const. art. V, § 12.

¶ 1 1 R o h l f

s m a k e s n o “ a s a p p l i e d ” c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a l l e n g e t o § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

.

The central point of the Rohlfs ’ argument is that § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s p r o h i b i t e d

s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n a s t h e r e i s n o t h i n g u n i q u e a b o u t c a s e s a g a i n s t b a r o w

n e r s u n d e r t h e

D r a m S h o p A c t

, a s c o m

p a r e d t o n e g

l i g e n c e c a s e s g

e n e r a l l y

, w

h i c h m a k e s e v i d e n c e a n d

w i t n e s s e s m o r e l i k e l y t o d i s a p p e a r q u i c k l y

. T h u s

, t

h e R o h l f s a s s e r t t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e

provision in § 27

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, h a s s i n g l e d o u t “ d r a m s h o p p l a i n t i f f s ” f o r a u n i q u e

p r o c e d u r a l d i s a b i l i t y t h a t i s a r

b i t r a r y a n d d o e s n o t a r i s e f r o m a n y d i s t i n c t i o n t h a

t c a n

w i t h s t a n d c o n s t i t u

t i o n a l m u s t e r

.5

¶ 1 2 I n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c o n

t e x t

, a l a w i s n o t l o c a

l o r s p e c i a l i f i t o p e r a t e s i n t h e s a m e

m a n n e r u p o n a

l l p e r s o n s i n l i k e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. I f a l a w o p e r a t e s u n i f o r m l y a n d e q u a

l l y

u p o n a l l b r

o u g h t w i t h i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s f o r w h i c h i t p r o v i d e s

, i t i s n o t a l o c a l o r s p e c i a l

l a w

. L o w

e r y v

. G a r f i e l d C o u n t y

, 1 2 2 M o n

t

. 5 7 1

, 5 8 6

, 2 0 8 P

. 2 d 4 7 8

, 4 8 6 ( 1 9 4 9 )

. O n t h e

o t h e r h a n d

, a l a w i s s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n i f i t c o n f

e r s p a r t i c u l a r p r i v i l e g

e s o r d i s a b i l i t i e s

u p o n a c l a s s o f p e r s o n s a r b i t r a r i l y s e l e c t e d f

r o m a l a r g e r g

r o u p o f p e r s o n s

, a l l o f w h o m

s t a n d i n t h e s a m e r e l a t i o n t o t h e p r i v i l e g e s o r d i s a b i l i t i e s

.

A s p e c i a l s t a t u t e i s o n e w h i c h r e l a t e s t o p a r t i c u l a r p e r s o n s o r t h i n g s o f a

c l a s s

, o r o n e m a d e f

o r i n d i v i d u a l c a s e s a n d f

o r l e s s t h a n a c l a s s

, o r o n e

w h i c h r e l a t e s a n d a p p l i e s t o p a r t i c u l a r m e m b e r s o f a c l a s s

, e i t h e r

p a r t i c u l a r i z e d b y t h e e x

p r e s s t e r m s o f t h e a c t o r s e p a r a t e d b y a n y m e t h o d o f

s e l e c t i o n f

r o m t h e w

h o l e c l a s s t o w

h i c h t h e l a w m

i g h t

, b u t f o r s u c h

l i m i t a t i o n

, b e a p p l i c a b l e

.

L o w e r y , 122 Mont. at 587, 208 P.2 d at 487 (internal citations omitted).

¶ 1 3 C l a s s l e g

i s l a t i o n m a y b e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i f t h e c l a s s e s t a b l i s h e d i s g e r m a n e t o t h e

p u r p o s e o f t h e l a w a n d i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y s o m e s p e c i a l q u a l i t i e s o r a t t r i b u t e s w

h i c h

r e a s o n a b l y r e n d e r t h e l e g i s l a t i o n n e c e s s a r y

. I

n o t h e r w o r d s

, i f t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i s

r e a s o n a b l e a n d t

h e l a w o p e r a

t e s e q u a l l y u p o n e v

e r y p e r s o n o r t

h i n g w i t h i n t

h e g i v e n

c l a s s

, i t i s n o t u

n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

. S t a t e e x r e l

. , F i s h e r v

. S c h o o l D i s t

. N

o

. 1

, 9 7 M o n

t

. 3 5 8

,

3 6 6

- 6 7

, 3 4 P

. 2 d 5 2 2

, 5 2 5

- 2 6 ( 1 9 3 4 )

. R e a s o n a b l e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f p e r s o n s w i l l b e

u p h e l d a g

a i n s t a s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n c h a l l e n g

e

. L i n d e r v

. S m i t h

, 1 9 3 M o n

t

. 2 0

, 3 0

, 6 2 9

P

. 2 d 1 1 8 7

, 1 1 9 2 ( 1 9 8 1 )

. A p r e s u m p t i o n e x i s t s i n f

a v o r o f a l a w b e i n g c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d

t h e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n b e i n g r e a s o n a b l e

. G r e a t F a l l s N a t

. B a n k v

. M

c C o r m i c k

, 1 5 2 M o n

t

. 3 1 9

,

3 2 3

, 4 4 8 P

. 2 d 9 9 1

, 9 9 3 ( 1 9 6 8 )

.6

¶ 1 4 S e c t i o n 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, d o e s s e t u p a c l a s s : t h o s e w h o s e e k t o r e c o v

e r f r o m a

p e r s o n o r e

n t i t y w h o f u r n i s h e d a l c o h o l t o a v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n w h o l a t e r c a u s e d a

n

i n j u r y

. T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n t h e s t a t u t e i s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

. I t i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i f t h e

e s t a b l i s h e d c l a s s i s r e a s o n a b l e a n d t r e a t s a l l t h o s e e q u a

l l y t h a t a r e w i t h i n t h e c l a s s

. G r e a t

F a l l s N a t

. B a n k

, 1 5 2 M o n

t

. a t 3 2 3

, 4 4 8 P

. 2 d a

t 9 9 3 ( c i t i n g S t a t e v

. S

a f e w a y S t o r e s

, I n c

. ,

1 0 6 M o n t

. 1 8 2

, 7 6 P

. 2 d 8 1 ( 1 9 3 8 ) )

.

¶ 1 5 A t c o m

m o n l a w

, a p u r v

e y o r o f a l c o h o l c o u l d n o t b e h e l d l i a b l e f o r i n j u r i e s c a u s e d

t o a t h i r d p a r

t y b y h i s i n t o x i c a t e d p a t r o n o r g u e s t

. T h e r e a s o n b e h i n d t h i s r u l e w a s t h e

i d e a t h a t t

h e c o n s u m

p t i o n

, r a t h e r t h a n t h e f u r n i s h i n g o f t h e a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e

,

p r o x i m a t e l y c a u s e d t h e i n j u r y

. N e v i n v

. C a r l a s c o

, 1 3 9 M o n

t

. 5 1 2

, 5 1 4

- 1 5

, 3 6 5 P

. 2 d 6 3 7

,

6 3 8 ( 1 9 6 1 )

. H o w e v

e r

, i n N e h r i n g v

. L a C o u n t e

, 2 1 9 M o n

t

. 4 6 2

, 4 7 1

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d 1 3 2 9

, 1 3 3 5

( 1 9 8 6 ) ( o v

e r r u l i n g R u n

g e v

. W a t t s

, 1 8 0 M o n t

. 9 1

, 5 8 9 P

. 2 d 1 4 5 ( 1 9 7 9 ) )

, t h i s C o u r t h e l d

t h a t t o e x e m

p t a p u r v e y o r o f a l c o h o l f

r o m l i a b i l i t y w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o h i s o w

n n e g l i g e n c e

o r f a u l t w a s a N e a n d e r t h a l a p p r o a c h t o d r a m s h o p l i a b i l i t y a n d r e j e c t e d t h e c o m m o n l a w

r u l e

.

¶ 1 6 A f t e r Nehri ng

, t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e e n a c t e d § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

, M C A

, c o m m o n l y r e f e r r e d t o a s

t h e D r a m S h o p A c t

, w i t h t h e s t a t e d p u r p o s e t o s e t s t a t u

t o r y c r i t e r i a g

o v e r n i n g t h e l i a b i l i t y

o f a p e r s o n o r e n t i t y t h a t f u r n i s h e s a n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e f o r i n j u r y o r d a m a g

e a r i s i n g

f r o m a n e v

e n t i n v o l v i n g t h e p e r s o n w

h o c o n s u m e d t

h e b e v e r a g e

. S e c t i o n 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 1 )

,

M C A

. I n 2 0 0 3

, t h e F i f

t y

- e i g h t h L e g i s l a t u r e e n a c t e d s u b s e c t i o n ( 6 ) o f t h e s t a t u t e

, a d d i n g

t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t t h e R o h l f s n o w a t t a c k

.7

¶ 1 7 I n t h i s i n s t a n c e

, t h e l e g

i s l a t i v e h i s t o r y r e v

e a l s w h a t m o t i v a t e d t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e t o

a d d t h e n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n i n q u e s t i o n

. I

n s u m m a r y

, t h e p r o p o n e n t s o f t h e n o t i c e

r e q u i r e m e n t t e s t i f

i e d i t i s o f

t e n t i m e s d i f

f i c u l t

, i f n o t i m

p o s s i b l e

, t o g

a t h e r a n d p r e s e r v

e

e v i d e n c e c o n c e r n i n g a n e v

e n t w h e r e a p o t e n t i a l d e f

e n d a n t w a s n o t p r e s e n

t a n d m a y n o t

b e a w a r e c r e a t e d p o t e n t i a l l i a b i l i t y

. T h e l e g i s l a t o r s w e r e a l s o t o l d t h a t i n s u r a n c e

c o v e r a g e f o r l i a b i l i t y c r e a t e d b y t h e D r a m S h o p A c t w a s n o t r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e b e c a u s e t

h e

g a t h e r i n g o f e v i d e n c e a n d l o c a t i o n o f w i t n e s s e s w a s d i f f i c u l t

. T h e L e g

i s l a t u r e a c c e p t e d

t h e s e a r g u m e n t s

, a n d i n i t s w i s d o m d e c i d e d t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t w a s

a p p r o p r i a t e t o h e l p a

l l e v i a t e t h e p r o b l e m

. T h

u s

, i t a d o p t e d s u b s e c t i o n ( 6 ) t o f i x a t i m e

w i t h i n w h i c h n o t i c e o f a c l a i m m u s t b e g i v e n

, s o t h a t r e c o l l e c t i o n s a r e r e a s o n a b l y i n t a c t

a n d w i t n e s s e s a r e s t i l l a v

a i l a b l e

.

¶ 1 8 T h e d i s s e n t p a s s i o n a t e l y d i s a g r e e s w i t h t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e ’ s p o l i c y d e c i s i o n t o c r e a t e

a c l a s s o f t o r t d e f

e n d a n t s t h a t s e r v e a l c o h o l a n d t h e

n e s t a b l i s h a s h o r

t e r p e r i o d w i t h i n

w h i c h m e m

b e r s o f t h a t c l a s s m a y c o m m e n c e a l a w s u i t

. H o w e v e r

, t h e f a c t f i n d i n g

p r o c e s s a n d m o t i v

a t i o n o f l e g

i s l a t i v e b o d i e s i s e n t i t l e d t o a p r e s u m p t i o n o f r e g

u l a r i t y a n d

d e f e r e n t i a l r e v i e w b y t h e j u d i c i a r y

. 1 6 A A m

. J u r

. 2 d C o n s t i t u t i o n a l L a w § 2 7 1 ( 1 9 9 8 )

(citing W a l t e r s v

. N a t i o n a l A s

s ’ n o f R a d i a t i o n S u r v i v o r s

, 4 7 3 U

. S

. 3 0 5

, 1 0 5 S

. C t

. 3 1 8 0

( 1 9 8 5 ) )

. I

t i s n o t t h e f

u n c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t s t o s e c o n d

- g u e s s t h e l e g

i s l a t u r e a n d s u b s t i t u

t e

t h e i r j u d g m e n t o n t

h e p o l i c y o f l i m

i t i n g t h e a b i l i t y t o b r i n g s u i t a g a i n s t o n e w

h o f u r n i s h e s

a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

. See Watters v. Guaranty Nat. Ins. Co.

, 2 0 0 0 M T 1 5 0

, ¶ 5 1

, 3 0 0

M o n t

. 9 1

, 3 P

. 3 d 6 2 6

, o v e r r u l e d o n o t h e r g r o u n d s

, S h i l h a n e k v

. D

- 2 T

r u c k i n g

, I n c

. , 2 0 0 3

M T 1 2 2

, 3 1 5 M o n

t

. 5 1 9

, 7 0 P

. 3 d 7 2 1 ; S

t a t e B a r o f M o n t a n a v

. K

r i v e c

, 1 9 3 M o n

t

. 4 7 7

,8

4 8 1

, 6 3 2 P

. 2 d 7 0 7

, 7 1 0 ( 1 9 8 1 ) ; L i n d e r

, 1 9 3 M o n t

. a t 2 9

, 6 2 9 P

. 2 d a t 1 1 9 2

. A d h e r e n c e t o

t h i s p r i n c i p l e i s n o t f

a w n i n g o r g r o v e l i n g b e f o r e t h e l e g i s l a t u r e

, i t i s r e s p e c t f o r t h e r o l e o f

t h e p o l i c y

m a k i n g b o d y i n o u r s y s t e m o f g o v e r n m e n t

. T h e c o u r t s a r e l i m i t e d t o a

d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f w

h e t h e r i t i s r e a s o n a b l e t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e t w e e n t h e c l a s s e s c r e a t e d b y

t h e l e g i s l a t i o n i n q u e s t i o n

. H e r e

, t h o s e c l a s s e s a r e t o r t c l a i m s a g a i n s t a d e f e n d a n t d i r e c t l y

i n v o l v e d i n t h e i n c i d e n t c a u s i n g d a m a g e a n d t h o s e w h e r e t h e d e f

e n d a n t i s n o t p r e s e n t a n d

m a y n o t b e a w a r e t h a

t a n i n c i d e n t o c c u r r e d u n t i l b e i n g s e r v e d w i t h a c o m

p l a i n t

.

¶ 1 9 The class created under § 27

- 1

- 710(6), MCA

— p l a i n t i f f s w h o u t i l i z e a s t a t u

t o r y

s c h e m e t o b r i n g a n a c t i o n a g a i n s t a d e f

e n d a n t t h a

t i s n o t i m

m e d i a t e l y a w a r e i t m a y b e

held liable

— i s g

e r m a n e t o t

h e p u r p o s e o f r e q u i r i n g m e m

b e r s o f t h i s c l a s s n o t i f

y a

p o t e n t i a l d e f e n d a n t o f t h e i r c l a i m

. T h i s c l a s s o f p l a i n t i f f s i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y t h e s p e c i a l

n a t u r e o f t h e D r a m S h o p A c t

, w h i c h c r e a t e s a s t a t u

t o r y c l a i m t h a t a r i s e s e v e n t h o u g h

d e f e n d a n t s m a y n o t b e a w a r e t h e y a r e a l l e g e d t o h a v

e c a u s e d a n i n

j u r y

. T h e n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n o p e r a t e s e q u a l l y u p o n e v e r y p e r s o n w

h o s e e k s r e d r e s s u n d e r t h e D r a m S h o p

A c t

, b e i t a g

a i n s t a b a r t e n d e r

, a t a v

e r n o w n e r

, a c l u b o r o r g

a n i z a t i o n h o l d i n g s o m e s o r t o f

a n e v e n t

, o r a s o c i a l h o s t w h o h a s f r i e n d s t o d i n n e r

. T h e w i s d o m o f t h e n o t i c e

r e q u i r e m e n t o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s s u b j e c t t o d e b a t e

. H o w e v

e r

, i t o p e r a t e s u n i f

o r m l y

a n d e q u a l l y u p o n a l l b r o u g h t w i t h i n t

h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s f

o r w h i c h i t p r o v

i d e s

. T h e r e i s a

p r e s u m p t i o n t h a t t

h e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n i s r e a s o n a b l e a n d t h a t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e a c t e d o n

l e g i t i m a t e g

r o u n d s

. G r e a t F

a l l s N a t

. B a n k

, 1 5 2 M o n

t

. a t 3 2 3

, 4 4 8 P

. 2 d a t 9 9 3

.

¶ 2 0 A l t h o u g

h t h e d i s s e n t e n g

a g e s i n a l e n g

t h y e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d

t o t h e l e g i s l a t u r e t o j u s t i f

y p a s s i n g § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, a n d t h e n f i n d s i t i n s u f

f i c i e n t

,9

t h i s C o u r t h a s n o l i c e n s e t o p s y c h o a n a l y z e t h e l e g

i s l a t o r s

. S e e W

a l l a c e v

. J

a f f r e e

, 4 7 2

U.S. 38, 74, 105 S. Ct . 2479, 2499 (1985) (O’Connor, J., concurring). T h i s C o u r t ’ s r o l e

is not to determine the prudence of a legislative decision. S a t t e r l e e v

. L u m b e

r m a n ’ s

Mutual Ins. Co.

, 2 0 0 9 M T 3 6 8

, ¶ 3 4

, 3 5 3 M o n t

. 2 6 5

,

_ _ P

. 3 d

_ _ . I

t i s f o r t h e l e g i s l a t u r e

t o p a s s u p o n t h e w i s d o m o f a s t a t u t e

. M c C l a n a t h a n v

. S

m i t h

, 1 8 6 M o n

t

. 5 6

, 6 6

, 6 0 6 P

. 2 d

507, 513 (1980). W e c o n c l u d e t h a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, d o e s n o t

, b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e

d o u b t

, c r e a t e a n u

n r e a s o n a b l e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n

. T h e s t a t u t e i s n o t u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a s s p e c i a l

l e g i s l a t i o n p r o h i b i t e d b y A r t i c l e V

, S e c t i o n 1 2

, o f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u

t i o n

.

¶ 2 1 I s s u e 2 : I

s § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 (

6 )

, M C A

, u n c o n s t i t

u t i o n a l a s a v i o l

a t i o n o f e q u a l

p r o t e c t i o n o

f t h e l a w r e q u i r e d b

y A r t i c l e I

I

, S e c t i o n 4

, o

f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u t i o n ?

¶ 2 2 Article II, S e c t i o n 4

, o f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u t i o n g

u a r a n t e e s t

h a t “ [ n ] o p e r s o n

s h a l l b e d e

n i e d t h e e q

u a l p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l a w s

. ” T h e R o h l f s c o n t e n d t h a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

,

M C A

, d e n i e s t h e m e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l a w b e c a u s e i t u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y i m

p o s e s a

b u r d e n o n p l a i n

t i f f s w h o b r i n g s u i t u n d e r t

h e D r a m S h o p A c t t h a t i s n o t i m p o s e d o n o t

h e r

g e n e r a l n e g

l i g e n c e p l a i n t i f

f s

.

¶ 2 3 W h e n p r e s e n t e d w i t h a n e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n c h a

l l e n g e

, w e f i r s t i d e n t i t y t h e c l a s s e s

i n v o l v e d a n d d e t e r m i n e w

h e t h e r t h e y a r e s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d

. Farr i e r v

. T e a c h e r ’ s

Retirement Bd.

, 2 0 0 5 M T 2 2 9

, ¶ 1 5

, 3 2 8 M o n t

. 3 7 5

, 1 2 0 P

. 3 d 3 9 0

. T h e b a s i c r u l e o f

e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n “ i s t h a t p e r s o n s s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o a l e g i t i m a t e

g o v e r n m e n t a l p u r

p o s e o f t h e l a w m

u s t r e c e i v e l i k e t r e a t m e n t

. ” O b e r

s o n v

. U

. S

. D e p t

. o f

Agric., Forest Service

, 2 0 0 7 M T 2 9 3

, ¶ 1 9

, 3 3 9 M o n t

. 5 1 9

, 1 7 1 P

. 3 d 7 1 5

. I f t h e c l a s s e s

a t i s s u e a r e n o t s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d

, t h e f i r s t c r i t e r i o n f

o r p r o v i n g a n e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n1 0

v i o l a t i o n i s n o t m e t

, a n d o u r e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n a n a l y s i s e n d s

. S t a t e v

. E g d o r f

, 2 0 0 3 M T

2 6 4

, ¶ 1 5

, 3 1 7 M o n t

. 4 3 6

, 7 7 P

. 3 d 5 1 7

. N e v e r t h e l e s s

, i f t h e c l a s s e s e s t a b l i s h e d a r e

s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d

, a l e g

i s l a t i v e a c t i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l b e c a u s e i t b e n e f

i t s a

p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s

, s o l o n g a s t h e l a w o p e r a t e s e q u a l l y u p o n t

h o s e w i t h i n t h e c l a s s

. F

a r r i e r

,

¶ 1 5

.

A

. S i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d

¶ 2 4 T h e R o h l f

s c o n t e n d t

h a t d r a m s h o p p l a i n

t i f f s a n d g e n e r a l n e g

l i g e n c e p l a i n t i f

f s a r e

similarly situated. Stumble Inn contends that purveyors of alcohol

— s o c i a l h o s t s

, t a v e r n

owners, char ity event planners

— a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y d i f

f e r e n t f r o m g e n e r a l n e g

l i g e n c e

d e f e n d a n t s

, a

n d t h u s s e p a r a t e t r e a

t m e n t i s a p p r o p r i a t e

.

¶ 2 5 T h e p u r

p o s e o f t h e D r a m S h o p A c t i s t o s e t c r i t e r i a g o v e r n i n g t h e l i a b i l i t y o f a

p e r s o n o r e n

t i t y t h a t f u r n i s h e s a n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e f o r i n j u r y o r d a m a g e a r i s i n g f

r o m a n

e v e n t i n v o l v i n g t h e p e r s o n w

h o c o n s u m e d t h e b e v

e r a g e

. S e c t i o n 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 1 )

, M C A

.

S u b s e c t i o n ( 6 ) o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

, M C A

, t h e n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t i n q u e s t i o n

, i m p o s e s a n

o b l i g a t i o n o n p e r s o n s w

h o a l l e g e t h e y a r e i n

j u r e d a s a r e s u l t o f f

u r n i s h i n g a l c o h o l

. W

h i l e

t h o s e w h o m a k e a c l a i m u n d e r t h e D r a m S h o p A c t m

u s t t a k e a n a

d d i t i o n a l s t e p b e f o r e

b r i n g i n g s u i t

, t h e y a r e s t i l l i n a s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n a s o t h e r s w h o a l l e g e i n j u r y b y t h e

w r o n g f u l a c t o r o m

i s s i o n o f a n o t h e r

.

B

. L e v e l o

f s c r u t i n y

¶ 2 6 O n c e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n s h a v

e b e e n i d e n t i f

i e d

, w e n e x t d e t e r m

i n e w h i c h o f t h e

e s t a b l i s h e d l e v

e l s o f s c r u t i n y i s a p p r o p r i a t e l y a p p l i e d : s t r i c t s c r u t i n y

, m i d d l e

- t i e r s c r

u t i n y

,

o r t h e r a t i o n a l b a s i s t e s t

. Snetsinger v. Montana University Sys tem

, 2 0 0 4 M T 3 9 0

, ¶ 1 7

,1 1

3 2 5 M o n t

. 1 4 8

, 1 0 4 P

. 3 d 4 4 5

. S t r i c t s c r u t i n y a p p l i e s i f a s u s p e c t c l a s s o r f u n d a m e n t a

l

r i g h t i s a f f e c t e d

. U n d e r t h e s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y s t a n d a r

d

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s t h e b u r d e n o f

s h o w i n g t h a t t h e l a w i s n a r r o w l y t a i l o r e d t o s e r v e a c o m p e l l i n g g o v e r n m e n t i n t e r e s t

.

Snetsinger

, ¶ 1 7

. W e a p p l y m i d d l e

- t i e r s c r u t i n y i f t h e l a w a f

f e c t s a r i g h t c o n f e r r e d b y t h e

M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u t i o n

, b u t i s n o t f o u n d i n t

h e C o n s t i t

u t i o n ’ s D e c l a r a t i o n o f R i g h t s

.

Farrier

, ¶ 1 6

. T h e r a t i o n a l b a s i s t e s t i s a p p r o p r i a t e w h e n n e i t h e r s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y n o r

middle

- t i e r s c r

u t i n y a p p l y

. U

n d e r t h e r a t i o n a

l b a s i s t e s t

, i t i s t h e c h a

l l e n g e r ’ s b u r d e n t o

s h o w t h e l a w i s n o t r a

t i o n a l l y r e l a

t e d t o a l e g

i t i m a t e g o v e r n m e n t i n t e r e s t

. S

n e t s i n g e r

,

¶ 1 9

.

¶ 2 7 T h e R o h l f

s u r g e t h e C o u r

t t o a p p l y a s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y a n a l y s i s t o t

h e i r e q u a

l

p r o t e c t i o n c l a i m

, b y s u d d e n l y s w i t c h i n g t o a n a r g u m e n t t h a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

,

c o n s t i t u t e s a v i o l a t i o n o f A

r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 1 6

, o f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u

t i o n b e c a u s e i t

c l o s e s t h e c o u r

t h o u s e d o o r t o a p l a i n t i f

f w h o h a s n o t g

i v e n t h e r e q u i r e d n o t i c e

. A r t i c l e I I

,

S e c t i o n 1 6

, o f M o n

t a n a ’ s C o n s t i t

u t i o n g u a r a n t e e s t h a

t “ [ c ] o u r t s o f j u s t i c e s h a l l b e o p e n t o

e v e r y p e r s o n

, a n d s p e e d y r e m e d y a f f o r d e d f o r e v e r y i n

j u r y o f p e r s o n

, p r o p e r

t y

, o r

c h a r a c t e r

. ” T h e c o u r t h o u s e d o o r w a s

, o f c o u r s e

, o p e n t o t h e R o h l f s

. I t c l o s e d o n l y w

h e n

t h e r e q u i r e d n o t i c e w a s n o t g i v e n w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s

.

¶ 2 8 I t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y i n t h i s c a s e t o r e a n a l y z e w h e t h e r A r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 1 6

,

g u a r a n t e e s a f

u n d a m e n t a l r i g

h t t o a p a r t i c u l a r c a u s e o f a c t i o n

, r e m e d y

, o r r e d r e s s f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f d e c i d i n g i f s t r i c t s c r u t i n y a p p l i e s i n t h i s c a s e

. 1 The Dram Shop Act provides a

1 T h i s i s s u e i s e x h a

u s t i v e l y a n a l y z e d i n M e e c h v

. H i l l h a v e n W e s t

, I n c

. , 2 3 8 M o n t

. 2 1

, 7 7 6 P

. 2 d

4 8 8 ( 1 9 8 9 )

.1 2

r e m e d y u p o n p r o o f i t w a s v i o l a t e d

. T h e R o h l f s d o n o t a t

t a c k t h e l e g

i s l a t i v e a l t e r a t i o n o f

t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e i r c l a i m o c c a s i o n e d b y § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 3 )

, M C A

.

¶ 2 9 The notice req u i r e m e n t o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, u n d e r e x a m i n a t i o n i n t

h i s c a s e

, i s

i n t h e n a t u r e o f a p e r i o d o f l i m i t a t i o n p l a c e d o n t

h e a b i l i t y t o c o m

m e n c e a c i v i l a c t i o n f

o r

d a m a g e s

. I t d o e s n o t i n v

o l v e a s u s p e c t c l a s s o r a f

u n d a m e n t a l r i g

h t a n d s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y i s

n o t r e q u i r e d

. N o r d o e s t h e n o t i c e r e q

u i r e m e n t r e q u i r e m

i d d l e

- t i e r s c r

u t i n y

, w h i c h

g e n e r a l l y h a s b e e n a p p l i e d t o d i s c r i m i n a t o r y c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n s b a s e d o n s e x o r i l l e g i t i m a c y

.

S e e S t a t e o f A r i z

. v

. S a s s e

, 2 4 5 M o n

t

. 3 4 0

, 3 4 4

, 8 0 1 P

. 2 d 5 9 8

, 6 0 1 ( 1 9 9 0 ) ( c i t i n g C l a r k v

.

J e t e r

, 4 8 6 U

. S

. 4 5 6

, 1 0 8 S

. C t

. 1 9 1 0 ( 1 9 8 8 ) )

. T h e l e g i s l a t u r e m a y i m

p o s e r e a s o n a b l e

p r o c e d u r a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o n a v a i l a b l e r e m e d i e s s o l o n g a s t h o s e r e q u i r e m e n t s h a v e a

r a t i o n a l b a s i s

. H

a r r i s o n v

. C

h a n c e

, 2 4 4 M o n t

. 2 1 5

, 2 2 5

, 7 9 7 P

. 2 d 2 0 0

, 2 0 6 ( 1 9 9 0 ) ;

M e e c h v

. H i l l h a v e n W e s t

, I n c

. , 2 3 8 M o n t

. 2 1

, 3 0

, 7 7 6 P

. 2 d 4 8 8

, 4 9 3 ( 1 9 8 9 )

. A c c e s s t o

t h e c o u r t s m a y b e h i n d e r e d i f t h e r e i s a r a t i o n a l b a s i s f o r d o i n g s o

. L i n d e

r

, 1 9 0 M o n

t

. a t

2 5

- 2 6

, 6 2 9 P

. 2 d a

t 1 1 9 0

. T h e r a

t i o n a l b a s i s t e s t a p p l i e s t o a n a l y z i n g w h e t h e r a l i a b i l i t y

l i m i t a t i o n i m

p o s e d t h r

o u g h a s p e c i a l s t a t u

t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s v i o l a t e s e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n

.

R e e v e s v

. I

l l e E l e c

. C o

. , 1 7 0 M o n

t

. 1 0 4

, 1 1 2

- 1 3

, 5 5 1 P

. 2 d 6 4 7

, 6 5 2 ( 1 9 7 6 )

.

C

. R a t i o n a l B a s i s T

e s t

¶ 3 0 T h e R o h l f

s i g n o r e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e e n

t i r e t y o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

, M C A

, a p p l i e s n o t o n l y

t o t a v e r n o w n e r s

, b u t t o a l l w

h o m i g h t g i v e o r s e l l a n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e t o a n o t

h e r

.

T h e y a r g u e t h e L e g i s l a t u r e h a s n o r a t i o n a l b a s i s f o r r e q u i r i n g t h e m t o g i v e n o t i c e t o

S t u m b l e I n n w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s o f s e r v i n g a l c o h o l t o W a r r e n b e c a u s e t h e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t

t a v e r n o w n e r s s o m e h o w h a v

e m o r e d i f

f i c u l t y p r e s e r v i n g p o t e n

t i a l w i t n e s s t e s t i m o n y t h a n1 3

o t h e r n e g l i g e n c e d e f e n d a n t s i s f

u n d a m e n t a l l y f

l a w e d

. T h e R o h l f

s c l a i m t h e f

u n d a m e n t a l

f l a w i s t h a t t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e w a s p r e s e n t e d w i t h i n s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t h a t t a v

e r n o w n e r s

h a v e m o r e d i f

f i c u l t y l o c a t i n g w i t n e s s e s a n d p r e s e r v i n g e v i d e n c e t h a n o t

h e r d e f e n d a n t s i n

c i v i l a c t i o n s

. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e R o h l f s

, § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s r e a l l y a g r a t u i t o u s

w i n d f a l l f o r t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y

.

¶ 3 1 T h e r a t i o n a l b a s i s t e s t r e q u i r e s a l a w t o b e r a t i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o a l e g i t i m a t e

g o v e r n m e n t i n t e r e s t

. Snetsinger

, ¶ 1 9

. W h a t a c o u r t m a y t h i n k a s t o t h e w i s d o m o r

e x p e d i e n c y o f t h e l e g

i s l a t i o n i s b e s i d e t

h e q u e s t i o n a n d d o e s n o t g o t o t h e

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f a s t a t u t e

. T h e c o u r t i s t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e w a s i n a p o s i t i o n

a n d h a d t h e p o w e r t o p a s s u p o n t h e w i s d o m o f t h e e n a c t m e n t

, a n d i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a n

a f f i r m a t i v e s h o w i n g n o v

a l i d r e a s o n e x i s t e d b e

h i n d t h e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n

, i t i s n o t t o b e

d i s t u r b e d

. M c C l a n a t h a n

, 1 8 6 M o n

t

. a t 6 6

, 6 0 6 P

. 2 d a t 5 1 3 ( 1 9 8 0 ) ( c i t i n g S t a t e e x r e l

.

H a m m o n d v

. H

a g e r

, 1 6 0 M o n

t

. 3 9 1

, 3 9 9

, 5 0 3 P

. 2 d 5 2

, 5 6 ( 1 9 7 2 )

. T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e

l e g i s l a t i o n d o e s n o t h a v e t o a p p e a r o n t h e f

a c e o f t h e l e g

i s l a t i o n o r i n t h e l e g i s l a t i v e

h i s t o r y

. I t m a y b e a n y p o s s i b l e p u r p o s e o f w h i c h t h e c o u r t c a n c o n c e i v

e

. S t r a t e m e y e r v

.

L i n c o l n C

o

. , 2 5 9 M o n t

. 1 4 7

, 1 5 2

, 8 5 5 P

. 2 d 5 0 6

, 5 0 9

- 1 0 ( 1 9 9 3 ) ; K o t t e l v

. S t a t e

, 2 0 0 2 M T

2 7 8

, ¶ 5 5

, 3 1 2 M o n t

. 3 8 7

, 6 0 P

. 3 d 4 0 3

.

¶ 3 2 T h e R o h l f

s r e f e r t h e C o u r t t o t

h e p r o c e e d i n g s b e f

o r e t h e S e n a t e a n d H o u s e

B u s i n e s s a n d L a b o r C o m m i t t e e s o f t h e F i f

t y

- e i g h t h L e g i s l a t u r e w

h e r e t h e n o t i c e

r e q u i r e m e n t w a s d i s c u s s e d

. I t i s n o t f o r t h i s C o u r t t o r e v

i e w t h e q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y o f

i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t m o v

e d t h e L e g i s l a t u r e t o a c t

. T h e C o u r t ’ s t a s k i s t o e x a m i n e t h e r e s u l t1 4

a n d i f t h e l a w i s r a t i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o a l e g i t i m a t e g o v e r n m e n t p u r

p o s e

, i t w i t h s t a n d s a

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a l l e n g e

.

¶ 3 3 I t c a n n o t b e g

a i n s a i d t h a t t

h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s a l e g

i t i m a t e i n t e r e s t i n e s t a b l i s h i n g

r u l e s f o r t h e c o n d u c t o f l i t i g

a t i o n a n d i n s e t

t i n g p e r i o d s o f l i m i t a t i o n f o r p a r t i c u l a r t y

p e s

o f c l a i m s

. S e e T i t l e 2 7

, C h a p t e r 2

, M C A

, S t a t u t e s o f L i m i t a t i o n s

. 2 W

h i l e i t i s n o t

n e c e s s a r y t h a t t

h e r a t i o n a l e b e h i n d a p a r t i c u l a r s t a t u t e b e a p p a r e n t o n i t s f a c e i n o r d e r f

o r

i t t o p a s s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m u s t e r

, i n t h i s c a s e t h e r a t i o n a l e i s k n o w n

. I n a n a c t i o n u n d e r t

h e

D r a m S h o p A c t

, t h e p l a i n t i f f h a s t h e b u r d e

n o f p r o o f

. N e v e r t h e l e s s

, t h e p l a i n

t i f f h a s

i m m e d i a t e k

n o w l e d g e o f t h e i n c i d e n t a n d t h e a b i l i t y t o b e g

i n a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d

p r e s e r v e e v i d e n c e

. O n t h e o t

h e r h a n d

, t

h e d e f e n d a n t m o s t l i k e l y w a s n o t p r e s e n t a t t h e

i n c i d e n t a n d m a y n o t k n o w a n i n c i d e

n t o c c u r r e d

. T h e p e o p l e ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

d e t e r m i n e d i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e t

h a t a p o t e n t i a l d e f

e n d a n t s h o u l d h a v

e n o t i c e o f a p o s s i b l e

c l a i m w i t h i n s i x m o n t h s

, s o t h a t h e

, s h e

, o r i t c o u l d

, l i k e a p l a i n t i f f

, l o c a t e w i t n e s s e s a n d

p r e s e r v e p o t e n t i a l e v i d e n c e

. T h e r e i s a r a t i o n a l b a s i s f o r t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t

.

¶ 3 4 O t h e r s p e c i a l p e r i o d s o f l i m i t a t i o n h a v e s u r v i v e d a n e q u a

l p r o t e c t i o n c h a

l l e n g e

. I n

a d i s c r i m i n a t i o n c o n t e x t

, t h i s C o u r t h e l d t h a t 1 8 0

- d a y s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s w a s a r a t i o n a l

w a y p r e v e n t i n g s t a l e c l a i m s a n d e n s u r i n g t h a t c l a i m s a r e f i l e d b e f o r e e s s e n t i a l e v

i d e n c e

d i s a p p e a r s

. H

a r r i s o n

, 2 4 4 M o n

t

. a t 2 2 5

, 7 9 7 P

. 2 d a

t 2 0 6

. C o n c e r n i n g m e d i c a l

m a l p r a c t i c e c l a i m s b y a m i n o r

, t h i s C o u r t h e l d t

h a t a s t a t u

t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s t h a t a

p p l i e d

only to minors had a rational basis and did not violate Article II, Section 4

— t h e e q u a l

2 S c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t

h e M o n t a n a C o d e A n

n o t a t e d t h e r e a r e m a n y p e r i o d s o f l i m i t a t i o n w h i c h

a r e t o o n u m e r o u s t o m e n t i o n

.1 5

p r o t e c t i o n c l a

u s e o f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u t i o n

. E s t a t e o f M c C a r t h y v

. M o n t a n a S e c o n d

Judicial Dist. Court, Silver Bow Co.

, 1 9 9 9 M T 3 0 9

, ¶ 1 9

, 2 9 7 M o n t

. 2 1 2

, 9 9 4 P

. 2 d 1 0 9 0

.

¶ 3 5 W e c o n c l u d e t h a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s r a t i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o a l e g i t i m a t e

g o v e r n m e n t p u r

p o s e a n d t

h e r e f o r e d o e s n o t v

i o l a t e A r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 4

, o f t

h e M o n t a n a

C o n s t i t u t i o n

.

C O N C L U S I O N

¶ 3 6 S e c t i o n 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s n o t i n v a l i d a s s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n a n d d o e s n o t d e n y

t h e R o h l f s e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l a w

. T h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i s a f f i r m e d

.

/ S / J O H N W A R N E R

W e C o n c u r :

/ S / M I K E M c G R A T H

/ S / J I M R I C E

J u s t i c e B r i a n M o r r i s c o n c u r s

.

¶ 3 7 I c o n c u r w i t h t h e C o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n t o a f

f i r m t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t

.

R o h l f s ’ s m o t i o n f

o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t p r e s e n t e d a f a c i a l c h a l l e n g e t o t h e n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n c o n t a i n e d i n § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

. R o h l f s m a d e n o a s a p p l i e d c h a l l e n g e t o t h e

statute. ¶ 11. Rohlfs ’s m o t i o n f o r p a r t i a l s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t a l l e g e d s i m p l y t h a t “ t

h e

n o t i c e s t a t

u t e u p o n w

h i c h S t u m b l e I n n r e l i e s i s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

. ” R o h l f s c o n c e d e t h a

t

t h e y f a i l e d t o c o m

p l y w i t h t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n

. T h e n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n s e r v e s t o1 6

p r o v i d e a n o p p o r

t u n i t y f o r p u r v e y o r s o f a l c o h o l t o c o l l e c t a n d p r e s e r v

e e v i d e n c e

r e g a r d i n g a n a c c i d e n t a l l e g e d t o h a v e o c c u r r e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e p u r v e y o r ’ s n e g

l i g e n t

s e r v i n g o f a l c o h o l

. S e c t i o n 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

.

¶ 3 8 I n t h i s i n s t a n c e

, h o w e v

e r

, t h e e m

p l o y e e s o f t h e S t u m

b l e I n n k n e w i m m e d i a t e l y

a f t e r t h e a c c i d e n t t h a

t W a r r e n h a d b e e n d r i n k i n g a t t h e S t u m b l e I n n f o r t h e 1 1 h o u r s

p r e c e d i n g t h e a c c i d e n t

. ¶ 4

. T h i s f a c t r a i s e s t h e q

u e s t i o n o f w

h e t h e r t h e n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n ’ s p u r

p o s e h a d b e e n s e r v

e d

. I n o t h e r w o r d s

, t h e e m

p l o y e e s o f t h e S t u m

b l e I n n

l i k e l y h a d p a s s e d a l o n g t o t h e p r i n c i p a l s o f K l e m e n h a g e n

, L

. L

. C

. , d / b / a S t

u m b l e I n n

, t h e

f a c t t h a t o n e o f i t s p a t r o n s h a d l o a d e d u p a t t h e b a r b e f

o r e p l o w i n g i n t o a n u n s u s p e c t i n g

d r i v e r o n H i g

h w a y 9 3

. W

h e t h e r t h i s c o n s t r

u c t i v e n o t i c e b l o s s o m e d i n t o a c t u a l n o t i c e

p r e s e n t e d a q

u e s t i o n o f f

a c t t h a t R o h l f

s d i d n o t e x

p l o r e

.

¶ 3 9 R o h l f

s i n s t e a d c h o s e t o p u r s u e a f a c i a l c h a l l e n g

e t o t h e n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n i n i t s

m o t i o n f o r p a r t i a l s u m

m a r y j u d g m e n t

. R o h l f

s r a i s e d n o i s s u e a t t h e h e a r i n g o n s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t a s t o w

h e t h e r t h e p r i n c i p a

l s o f K l e m e n h a g

e n

, L

. L

. C

. , d / b / a S t

u m b l e I n n h a d

a c t u a l n o t i c e o f t h e a c c i d e n t i n l i g h t o f t h e i n f

o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t h e a c c i d e n t r e p o r t

t h a t t h e i n v

e s t i g a t i n g p o l i c e o f

f i c e r s h a d i n t e r v i e w e d e m p l o y e e s o f t h e S t u m

b l e I n n r i g h t

a f t e r t h e a c c i d e n t

. T h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t a s s e r t e d a t t h e o u t s e t o f t h e h e a r i n g t h a t n o g e n u i n e

i s s u e s o f m a t e r i a l f

a c t e x i s t e d

. N e i t h e r p a r

t y d i s p u t e d t h e c o u r t ’ s a s s e r t i o n

. R o h l f s a l s o

p h r a s e t h e i r c h a l l e

n g e o n a p p e a l b r o a

d l y a s a f a c i a l c h a l l e n g

e t o t h e n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n

.

¶ 4 0 I w o u l d h a v

e b e e n w i l l i n g t o c o n s i d e r a n a s a p p l i e d c h a l l e n g e t o t h e n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n i n l i g

h t o f t h e f

a c t t h a t t h e p r i n c i p a l s o f K l e m e n h a g e n

, L

. L

. C

. d / b / a S t

u m b l e

I n n l i k e l y h a d a c t u a

l k n o w l e d g e o f t h e a c c i d e n t a n d i t s r o l e i n s e r v i n g a l c o h o l t o W a r r e n1 7

i n t h e 1 1 h o u r s p r e c e d i n g t h e a c c i d e n t a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y a f

t e r t h e a c c i d e n t

. R o h l f

s ’ s

f o r m a l n o t i c e u n d e r § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, s i m p l y w o u l d h a v

e i n f o r m e d t h e s e p r i n c i p a l s

w h a t t h e y a l r e a d y k

n e w

. T h e p r i n c i p a l s l i k e l y c o u l d n o t h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d p r e

j u d i c e

f r o m t h e R o h l f

s ’ s f a i l u r e t o c o m

p l y s t r i c t l y w i t h t h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n u n d e r t

h o s e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. C o m

p l i a n c e w i t h t h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n u n d e r t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w o u l d

h a v e b e e n a u s e l e s s a c t

. I

t i s a x i o m a t i c t h a t “ n e i t h e r l a w n o r e q u i t y r e q u i r e u s e l e s s a c t s

. ”

Stockman Bank of Mont. v. Mon

- Kota, Inc.

, 2 0 0 8 M T 7 4

, ¶ 4 1

, 3 4 2 M o n t

. 1 1 5

, 1 8 0 P

. 3 d

1 1 2 5

.

/ S / B R I A N M O R R I S

J u s t i c e W

. W i l l i a m L e a p h a r t

, d i s s e n t i n g

.

¶ 4 1 I d i s s e n t

. A s t h e C o u r t ’ s o p i n i o n n o t e s

, t

h e p u r p o s e o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s t o

p r o v i d e a p u r v

e y o r o f a l c o h o l n o t i c e o f a p o t e n t i a l c l a i m a r i s i n g o u t o f a n i n c i d e n t a t

w h i c h t h e p u r v

e y o r “ m o s t l i k e l y w a s n o t p r e s e n t

. ” O p i n i o n

, ¶ 3 3

. U

n d e r t h e f a c t s o f t h e

p r e s e n t c a s e

, i t i s c l e a r t h a t t h e S t u m b l e I n n w a s

, i n f

a c t

, o n n o t i c e o f t h e i n c i d e n t

. I t s

e m p l o y e e s w e r e v

e r y m u c h a w a r e o f W a r r e n ’ s c o n s u m p t i o n o f a l c o h o l w

h i l e a t t h e I

n n

a n d

, m o r e i m

p o r t a n t l y

, w e r e a w a r e t

h a t

, u p o n l e a v

i n g t h e I n n

, h e g o t i n h i s c a r a n d w a s

i n v o l v e d i n a s e r i o u s a u t o m o b i l e a c c i d e n t w i t h i n 1 5 0

- s o m e f e e t o f t h e I

n n

. O n e o f t h e

I n n ’ s b a r t e n d e r s ( L i s a F o l e y ) w a s i n t e r v i e w e d t h a t n i g

h t a n d t o l d t h e i n v

e s t i g a t i n g

S e r g e a n t t h a t W a r r e n h a

d a b o u t a b e e r a n h o u r t h r o u g h o u t h e r s h i f

t

, w h i c h b e g a n a t 61 8

p

. m

. a n d t

h e n h a d a s h o t f

o r a n i g h t c a p a s s h e w a s c l o s i n g a r o u n d 1 a

. m

. S h e h a d

e n c o u r a g e d W a r r e n t o c a l l f

o r a r i d e o r g

e t a t a x i

, b u

t h e r e f u s e d

.

¶ 4 2 A l t h o u g

h R o h l f s d i d n o t p r o v

i d e n o t i c e w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s

, a s r e q u i r e d b y § 2 7

- 1

-

7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, s u c h n o t i c e w o u l d h a v e b e e n e n t i r e l y s u p e r f

l u o u s s i n c e t h e I

n n

, t h r o u g h i t s

e m p l o y e e s

, w a s a w a r e o f t h e i n c i d e n t s h o r t l y a f t e r i t o c c u r r e d

. A s t h e C o u r t r e c o g n i z e s

,

t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e s t a t u t e i s t o p r o v i d e p u r v e y o r s o f a l c o h o l s u f

f i c i e n t o p p o r

t u n i t y t o

“ l o c a t e w i t n e s s e s a n d p r e s e r v e p o t e n t i a l e v i d e n c e

. ” H e r e

, t h e S t u m b l e I n n

, w h o s e

e m p l o y e e / b a r t e n d e r w a s i n t e r v i e w e d t h a t n i g h t

, w a s n o t d e n i e d t h a

t o p p o r t u n i t y

. I f

a n y t h i n g

, t h e I

n n w a s i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o b e g i n g a t h e r i n g e v i d e n c e t h a

n C a r y R o h l f

s

,

w h o w a s s e r i o u s l y i n

j u r e d

. N e i t h e r l a w n o r e q u i t y r e q u i r e u s e l e s s a c t s

. S t o c k m a n B a n k

o f M o n t

. v

. M o n

- K o t a

, I n c

. , 2 0 0 8 M T 7 4

, ¶ 4 1

, 3 4 2 M o n t

. 1 1 5

, 1 3 2

, 1 8 0 P

. 3 d 1 1 2 5

, 1 1 3 7

.

H a d R o h l f

s g i v e n t h e r e q u i r e d n o t i c e w i t h i n t h e 1 8 0 d a y s

, S t u m b l e I n n ’ s a b i l i t y t o g

a t h e r

e v i d e n c e w o u l d n o t h a v

e b e e n a n y b e t

t e r t h a n i t w a s a f

e w h o u r s a f

t e r t h e i n c i d e

n t

.

¶ 4 3 A s a r g

u e d b y t h e R o h l f

s

, i t i s e v i d e n t f

r o m t h e l a w e n f

o r c e m e n t i n t e r v i e w a n d

p u b l i c c o u r

t r e c o r d s t h a t t h e p a s s a g

e o f t i m e h a s n o t h i n d e r e d t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d

d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e f

a c t s

.

/ S / W

. W I L L I A M L E A P H A R T

Justice Patricia O. Cotter dissents.

¶ 4 4 T h o u g

h I d o n o t j o i n J

u s t i c e N e l s o n ’ s D i s s e n t v e r b a t i m

, I s t r o n g

l y a g r e e w i t h h i s

well

- r e a s o n e d c o n c l u s i o n t h a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n p r o h i b i t e d b y1 9

A r t i c l e V

, S e c t i o n 1 2 o f t h e M o n t a n a C o n s t i t u

t i o n

. I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n

, I f

u l l y c o n c u r w i t h

h i s o b s e r v

a t i o n s s e t f

o r t h i n ¶ ¶ 1 0 1

- 1 1 1

. L e g i s l a t i v e i n s u l a t i o n o f t h o s e w h o p r o v i d e

a l c o h o l t o i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n s f r o m t h e o p e r a t i o n o f l a w a p p l i c a b l e t o a l l o t h e r t o r t f e a s o r s

i s a n i n d e f

e n s i b l e p a r t i c u l a r p r i v i l e g e p r o h i b i t e d b y o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n

. T h e n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n a l s o c o n s t i t u

t e s a n i n d e f

e n s i b l e d i s a b i l i t y i m

p o s e d u p o n t

h o s e u n f o r t u n a t e

e n o u g h t o b e t h e v

i c t i m s o f d r

u n k d r i v e r s

.

¶ 4 5 I w

r i t e t o a d d r e s s t h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n f r o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v

e o f t h e v

i c t i m

. A s

n o t e d b y J

u s t i c e N e l s o n

, a s p e c i a l l a w w h i c h i m p o s e s “ p e c u l i a r d i s a b i l i t i e s ” u p o n a n

a r b i t r a r y c l a s s o f p e r s o n s i s a l s o c o n s i d e r e d s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n

. L e u t h o l d v

. B r

a n d j o r d

,

1 0 0 M o n t

. 9 6

, 1 0 5

, 4 7 P

. 2 d 4 1

, 4 5 ( 1 9 3 5 )

. I t b e a r s r e p e a t i n g t h a t A

r t i c l e V

, S e c t i o n 1 2 o f

t h e M o n t a

n a C o n s t i t u

t i o n p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e s h a l l n o t p a s s a s p e c i a l a c t “ w h e n

a g e n e r a l a c t i s

, o r c a n b e m a d e

, a p p l i c a b l e

. ” F o r t

h e m a n y d e c a d e s b e f

o r e t h i s n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n c a m e i n t o b e i n g

, t h e s t a t u t e s o f l i m i t a t i o n s o p e r a t e d g

e n e r a l l y

, u

n i f o r m l y

, a n d

s u c c e s s f u l l y u p o n a l l t o r t v

i c t i m s

, r e g

a r d l e s s o f w

h e t h e r t h e i r i n

j u r i e s s t e m m e d f

r o m

n e g l i g e n c e o r r e c k l e s s n e s s

. T h e r e i s a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g i n t h e l e g i s l a t i v e h i s t o r y

d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t

h e g e n e r a l a c t c o u l d n o l o n g

e r “ b e m a d e a p p l i c a b l e ” t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r

c l a s s o f p e r s o n s v i c t i m

i z e d b y o v

e r s e r v e d i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n s

. I f A r t i c l e V

, S e c t i o n 1 2 i s

t o m e a n a n y

t h i n g

, i t m

u s t m e a n t h a t i f t h e g

e n e r a l l a w w o r k s

, t h e n n o s p e c i a l a c t s h o u l d

b e p a s s e d

. T h e g

e n e r a l l a w h a s a l w a y s w o r k e d ; t h e r e f o r e

, t h e L e g i s l a t u r e v

i o l a t e d t h i s

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r e c e p t w

h e n i t p a s s e d a s p e c i a l a c t d i s a d v a n t a g i n g v i c t i m s o f o v

e r s e r v e d

d r u n k d r i v e r s

.2 0

¶ 4 6 T h e n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n i s p l a i n l y u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n

. I w o u l d

t h e r e f o r e r e v e r s e t h e o r

d e r o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t a n d r e m a n d t h i s c a s e f o r t r i a l o n i t s

m e r i t s

. I d i s s e n t f

r o m o u r r e f

u s a l t o d o s o

.

/ S / P A T R I C I A O

. C O T T E R

J u s t i c e J a m e s C

. N e l s o n

, d i s s e n t i n g

.

I. INTRODUCTION

¶ 4 7 Today, this Court ably demonstrates what it means to decide a case, “not pursuant

to the judicial duty of applying the law, but by [reaching] a result that accords with its

will.” 1 The 180

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

, M C A

, i s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l s p e c i a l

l e g i s l a t i o n

, p l a i n a

n d s i m p l e

. T h e 2 0 0 3 L e g

i s l a t u r e a d m

i t t e d l y b e s t o w e d t h i s p r i v i l e g e o n

a small subset of negligence defendants

— those who allegedly served alcoholic beverages

to underage or visibly intoxicated consumers

— so that thes e defendants would have a

special defense to civil claims which other, similarly situated negligence defendants do

not have. Conversely, those who are injured by these defendants’ negligent conduct have

an extra burden in obtaining a remedy

— a burden which other, similarly situated plaintiffs

do not have. This is quintessential special legislation; and in holding otherwise, the Court

“ g i v e s m e r e l i p s e r v i c e ” t o t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n s a n d t h e n “ t w i s t s t h e p r o v i s i o n s

1 In re L.F.A.

, 2 0 0 9 M T 3 6 3

, ¶ 2 6

, 3 5 3 M o n t

. 2 2 0

,

_ _ _ P

. 3 d

_ _ _ ( R i c e

, J

. ,

c o n c u r r i n g

)

.2 1

. . . to reach the desired conclus ion” 2 t h a t l e g i s l a t i o n s p e c i a l l y e n a c t e d t o g i v e s p e c i a l

protection to an apparently special group is not “special” itself.

¶ 4 8 T h i s r e m a r k a b l e c o n c l u s i o n i s a l l t h e m o r e e g

r e g i o u s w

h e n v i e w e d i n c o n

t e x t

.

S t u m b l e I n n s e r v e d a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s t o o n e o f i t s p a t r o n s f o r e l e v e n h o u r s

. S t

u m b l e

I n n ’ s v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d p a t r o n t h e n “ s t u m b l e d o u t ” o f t h e b a r

, g

o t i n t o h i s c a r

, p e e l e d

o u t o f t h e p a r k i n g l o t

, a

n d s l a m m e d i n t o C a r y R o h l f

s

. A c c o r d i n g t o w i t n e s s e s

, C a r y h a d

n o t i m e t o a v

o i d t h e c o l l i s i o n

, f

r o m w h i c h h e s u f

f e r e d s e r i o u s i n

j u r i e s

. Y e t

, s o l e l y

b e c a u s e C a r y d i d n o t g i v e S t u m b l e I n n n o t i c e

, w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s

, o f a n i n t e n t t o f i l e t h e

p r e s e n t a c t i o n

, t h e C o u r t h o l d s t h a t t h e c a s e m u s t b e d i s m i s s e d

, t h a t C a r y m u s t b e d e n i e d

his day in court, and that Stumble I nn does not have to answer for its actions. As the

public is likely to conclude, and rightly so, Stumble Inn “got off on a technicality.”

¶ 4 9 W o r s e s t i l l

, t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e n o t i c e r e q

u i r e m e n t i s n o t e v

e n b e i n g s e r v e d h e r e

. I

t

w a s a d o p t e d s o t

h a t a p u r v

e y o r o f a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s w h o w a s n o t p r e s e n t a t a

n i n j u r y

p r o d u c i n g i n c i d e n t i n v

o l v i n g o n e o f i t s p a t r o n s

, a n d t h u s m a y n o t b e a w a r e t h a t t h e

i n c i d e n t o c c

u r r e d

, h a s t h e o p p o r t

u n i t y t o g

a t h e r a n d p r e s e r v

e e v i d e n c e

, l o c a

t e a n d

interview witnesses, and prepare a defense to a claim arising out of the incident. Yet, the

accident here occurred only a stone’s throw from Stumble Inn’s front door, Stumble Inn

e m p l o y e e s w e r e f

u l l y a w a r e o f t h e a c c i d e n t a n d o f t h e i r d r u n k e n p a t r

o n ’ s i n v o l v e m e n t

,

a n d S t u m b l e I n n t h e r e f o r e w a s o n n o t i c e t h a t i t o u g h t t o g a t h e r e v i d e n c e a n d i n t e r v i e w

2 Klein v. State ex rel. Dept. of Corrections

, 2 0 0 8 M T 1 8 9

, ¶ 4 6

, 3 4 3 M o n t

. 5 2 0

, 1 8 5 P

. 3 d 9 8 6 ( W a r n e r

, J

. , d i s s e n t i n g )

.2 2

witnesses. 3 I a g

r e e t h a t u n d e r t

h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

, c o m

p l i a n c e w i t h t h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n

w o u l d h a v

e b e e n a “ u s e l e s s a c t ” ( s e e C o n c u r r e n c e ¶ 4 0 ; D i s s e n t

, ¶ 4 2 )

, s o m e t h i n g t h a t

n e i t h e r l a w n o r e q u i t y r e q u i r e s

. S t o c k m a n B a n k o

f M o n t a n a v

. M o n

- K o t a

, I n c

. , 2 0 0 8 M T

7 4

, ¶ 4 1

, 3 4 2 M o n

t

. 1 1 5

, 1 8 0 P

. 3 d 1 1 2 5

. M o r e o v e r

, S t u m b l e I n n h a s m a d e n o s h o w i n g

t h a t i t i s u n a b l e t o m o u n t a d e f e n s e t o t h e R

o h l f s ’ c l a i m s d u e t o t

h e i r f a i l u r e t o p r o v

i d e

t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e ; a

n d S t u m b l e I n n ’ s o n g o i n g i n s i s t e n c e t h a

t i t r e q u i r e d s u c h n o t i c e i s

,

t h e r e f o r e

, p a r t i c u l a r l y l u d i c r o u s

. S t u m b l e I n n ’ s a r g u m e n t a l s o i g

n o r e s a c r i t i c a l f

a c t : I t i s

t h e p l a i n t i f f w h o m u s t p r o v e t h a t t h e b a r s e r v

e d t h e d r i v e r w

h i l e h e w a s v i s i b l y

i ntoxicated. Indeed, here, it is the Rohlfs’ burden, not Stumble Inn’s, to find the

witnesses and gather the evidence.

¶ 5 0 E v e n m o r e t o t h e p o i n

t o f t h e R o h l f s ’ c o n s t i t u t i o n a

l c h a l l e n g e

, t h e r e i s n o e v

i d e n c e

a n y w h e r e i n t h e r e c o r

d s u p p o r t i n g t h e p r

o p o s i t i o n t h a

t a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r s h a v e a s p e c i a l

n e e d ( i n c o m

p a r i s o n t o s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d t o r t d e f e n d a n t s ) t o k

n o w t h a t t h e y a r e g

o i n g t o

b e s u e d s o t h a

t t h e y m i g h t g a t h e r e v i d e n c e a n d i n

t e r v i e w w i t n e s s e s

. I

n p o i n t o f f

a c t

,

S t u m b l e I n n w a s i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o k n o w t h a t i t m i g h t b e s u e d a n d t o p r e p a r e i t s

d e f e n s e t h a n a d i s t a n

t t i r e m a n u f

a c t u r e r w o u l d h a v

e b e e n h a d t h e a c c i d e n t b e e n c a

u s e d b y

d e f e c t i v e t i r e s

. Y e t

, w

h i l e t h e R o h l f

s c o u l d h o l d t

h e t i r e m a n u f

a c t u r e r r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r

placing a defective product in the stream of commerce, they are denied their right to hold

3 R e g a r d i n g t h e C o n c u r r e n c e ’ s s u g g e s t i o n i n ¶ 3 8 t h a t t

h e p r i n c i p a l s o f S t u m

b l e

I n n m i g h t n o t h a v

e h a d n o t i c e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

, I n o t e t h a t i t s e m p l o y e e s w e r e a w a r e o f t h e

a c c i d e n t

, t

h a t a n e m p l o y e e i s a n a g e n t o f h e r e m p l o y e r

, F a n d r i c h v

. C a p i t a l F o r d L i n c o l n

M e r c u r y

, 2 7 2 M o n

t

. 4 2 5

, 4 3 0

, 9 0 1 P

. 2 d 1 1 2

, 1 1 5 ( 1 9 9 5 )

, a n d t h a t a p r i n c i p a l i s d e e m e d

t o h a v e n o t i c e o f a l l i n f

o r m a t i o n k

n o w n b y h i s a g e n t t h a t t

h e a g e n t

, i n g o o d f a i t h a n d

e x e r c i s i n g d u e c a r e a n d d i l i g e n c e

, s h o u l d h a v

e c o m m u n i c ated to the principal, K a e d i n g v

. W

. R

. G r a c e & C

o

. - C o n n

. , 1 9 9 8 M T 1 6 0

, ¶ 2 6

, 2 8 9 M o n t

. 3 4 3

, 9 6 1 P

. 2 d 1 2 5 6

.2 3

S t u m b l e I n n r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r l o a d i n g u p i t s p a t r o n w i t h a l c o h o l f o r e l e v e n h o u r s a n d t h e

n

u n l e a s h i n g h i m o n u n s u s p e c t i n g m o t o r i s t s

. S t u m b l e I n n w i l l c e r

t a i n l y b e d e l i g

h t e d t o

l e a r n t h a t t

h i s C o u r t h a s endorsed the special legislation mandating this result.

¶ 5 1 T h e s u p r e m e i r o n y o f t h e C o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n i s t h a t a s t h i s O p i n i o n i s b e i n g h a n d e d

d o w n

, t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e

, t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l

, l o c a l l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a g

e n c i e s

, a n d c i t i z e n s

a c r o s s t h e s t a t e a r e d e m a n d ing an end to Montana’s “culture” and “deadly tradition” of

alcohol abuse and drunk driving. Indeed, hardly a week goes by without a citizen, a

p u b l i c o f f i c i a l

, o r o n e o f t h e s t a t e ’ s l a r g e s t n e w s p a p e r s c a l l i n g f o r s o l u t i o n s : t o u g

h e r

s e n t e n c e s

, i n c r e a s e d r e g

u l a t i o n o f t h o s e w

h o f u r n i s h t h e a l c o h o l

, m o r e t r a i n i n g

— anything

to put an end to the DUI nightmare. 4 I n t h i s r e g a r d

, a n i n t e r i m l e g i s l a t i v e c o m m i t t e e h a s

4 S e e e

. g

. M i c h a e l J a m i s o n

, C u l t u r e u n d e r t

h e I n f l u e n c e

, H e l e

n a I n d e p e n d e n

t

R e c o r d ( M a y 3 1

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, F i g h t A l c o h o l A b u s e : H

o w Y o u C a n H e l p P r e v e n t

M o r e D e a t h s f

r o m D r u n k e n D r i v i n g

, M i s s o u l i a n ( J

u n e 1 4

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, D U I

S e n t e n c e s V a r y T o o W i d e l y

, M i s s o u l i a n ( J

u n e 2 2

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, I n t e r l o c k D e v i c e s a

N o

- B r a i n e r

, M i s s o u l i a n ( J

u n e 2 9

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, T o u g h e n U p D r u n k e n

- D r i v i n g L a w

s

, H e l e n a I n d e p e n d e n

t R e c o r d ( J u l y 1 2

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; H o n

. S t e v e B u l l o c k

, E d i t o r i a l

, M

o n t a n a n s

M o r e T h a n R e a d y t o S u p p o r t E f f e c t i v e D U

I L a w s

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n

t R e c o r d ( J u l y 1 9

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; T a w

n y H a y n e s

, E d i t o r i a l

, S t

o p p i n g F u t u r e T r a g e d i e s w i t h P r e v e n t i o n a n d

E n f o r c e m e n t

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d ( J

u l y 2 0

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, A l c o h o l

- F r e e Z o n e a

S t r o n g M e s s a g e

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d ( J

u l y 2 1

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, M o n t a n a M u s t

G e t I n t o x i c a t e d D r i v e r

s o f f R o a d

, B i l l i n g s G a z e t t e ( J u l y 2 3

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; A

n g e l a B r a n d t

, H e l e n a P o l i c e R e m i n d P u b l i c a b o u t C o n s e q u e n c e s o

f D r i v i n g D r u n k

, H e l e n a

I n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d ( A

u g

. 2 0

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, P u t B r a k e s o n C l i m b i n

g D U I D e a t h T o l l

, B i l l i n g s G a z e t t e ( O c t

. 7

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; M i c h a e l J a m i s o n

, F l a t h e a d B o a t C

r a s h : D r i n k

i n g a n d

D r i v i n g E n t r e n c h e d a s a D e a d

l y M o n t a n a T r a d i t i o n

, M i s s o u l i a n ( O c t

. 1 9

, 2 0 0 9 ) ;

E d i t o r i a l

, M

o n t a n a N e e d s A l c o h o l C

u l t u r e C h a n g e

, M i s s o u l i a n ( O c t

. 2 6

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, T i m e t o C h a n g e D r i n k

i n g T r a d i t i o n

, H e l e

n a I n d e p e n d e n

t R e c o r d ( O c t

. 2 8

, 2 0 0 9 ) ;

E d i t o r i a l

, T

r a i n i n g C a n C o m b a t D r u n k e n D r i v i n g

, M i s s o u l i a n ( N o v

. 8

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; C h a r l e s S

. J o h n s o n

, A l c o h o l S

a l e s P e n a l t

y P r o p o s a l C o n t e s t e d

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d ( N o v

. 1 9

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, D o n ’ t W e a k e n I l l e g a l A l c o h o l S

a l e s P e n a l t i e s

, H e l e

n a I n d e p e n d e n

t

R e c o r d ( N o v

. 2 4

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, T e a c h T e e n s t o A v o i d A l c o h o l C

u l t u r e

, M i s s o u l i a n ( N o v

. 2 9

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, L e g i s l a t u r e S

h o u l d H e l p P u t B r a k e s o n D U I s

, B i l l i n g s G a z e t t e2 4

been formed to study the problem and to identify strengths and weaknesses in Montana’s

laws and “

p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a

t i v e p e n a l t y a n d e n f

o r c e m e n t p r

o v i s i o n s ” t h a t m

i g h t r e d u c e t

h e

incidence of repeat offenses. 5 S e e L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 2 0 0 9

, S e n a t e J o i n t R e s o l u t i o n

N o

. 3 9

. S e e m

i n g l y

, e v e r y o n e w a n t s t o p u t a

n e n d t o t h e “ c u l t u r e ” a

n d t o t h e c a r

n a g e o n

o u r h i g h w a y s

. 6

¶ 5 2 T h i s c a s e

, h o w e v e r

, i l l u s t r a t e s w

h y t h e s e e f f o r t s w i l l m o s t s u r e l y f

a i l

. A n d t h e

r e a s o n i s s i m

p l e : N o o n e w a n t s t o a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e p r o b l e m

. T h o s e w h o a r e

d o i n g t h e d r i n k i n g b e l i e v e t h e y c a n h a n d l e t h e m s e l v e s p e r f e c t l y f i n e a f t e r a few belts at

the local watering hole. And they certainly cannot accept the notion of the government

( D e c

. 1

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, Changing Minds

– a n d L a w s : L e g i s l a t o r s G i v e t h e i r R e s

p o n s e s

o n W a y s t o S t o p D r u n k e n D r i v i n g

, S a l e s t o M i n o r s

, M i s s o u l i a n ( D e c

. 6

, 7

, a n d 8

, 2 0 0 9 ) ;

K r i s M i n a r d

, E d i t o r i a l

, T i m e t o S t o

p T o l e r a t i n g D r i v i n

g D r u n k , Helena Independent

Record (Dec. 15, 2009); Editorial, S o b e r i n g S t a t i s t i c s f o r M o n t a n a ’ s H o l i d a y T r a v e l e r s

, B i l l i n g s G a z e t t e ( D e c

. 1 7

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; L o r n a T h a c k e r a y

, DUI Task Force Honors High

D r i v e r ’ s V i c t i m

, B i l l i n g s G a z e t t e ( D e c

. 1 7

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; J e n n i f e r M c K e e

, L a w

m a k e r s M u l l

O p t i o n s o n D U

I C r a c k d o w n

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d ( D e c

. 1 8

, 2 0 0 9 ) ; E d i t o r i a l

, P r o g r e s s B e i n g M

a d e o n D U

I L a w s

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d ( D e c

. 2 3

, 2 0 0 9 )

. 5 A r e p o r t w a s p r o v i d e d t o t h e c o m m i t t e e i n J

u l y 2 0 0 9

. S e e S

J R 3 9 : A P

r i m e r ( a v a i l a b l e a t h t t

p : / / l e g

. m t

. g o v / c o n t e n t / C o m m i t t e e s / I n t e r i m / 2 0 0 9

_ 2 0 1 0 / L a w

_ a n d

_ J u s t i c e /

S t a f f

_ R e p o r t s / S J R % 2 0 3 9 % 2 0 P R I M E R

. p d f )

. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e p o r t

, M o n t a n a h a s t h e

d u b i o u s d i s t i n c t i o n o f r a n k i n g h i g h e s t i n t h e n a t i o n f

o r a l c o h o l

- r e l a t e d t r a f

f i c f a t a l i t i e s

. S e e S J R 3 9 : A P

r i m e r

, a t 3

. T h e r e p o r t l i s t s n u m e r o u s s u g g e s t e d s o l u t i o n s f

r o m v a r i o u s

a g e n c i e s a n d o r g

a n i z a t i o n s

. N o t a b l y

, t w o s u c h p r o p o s a l s a r e “ l i m i t a t i o n s o n h a p p y h o u r s

a n d o t h e r a l c o h o l s a l e s p r a c t i c e s t h a t p r o m o t e d r i n k i n g

” a n d “ m a n d a t o r y t r a i n i n g f o r

t h o s e w h o s e r v e a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

. ” S e e S

J R 3 9 : A P

r i m e r

, a t 8 ( c i t i n g t h e w e b s i t e o f

M o t h e r s A g

a i n s t D r u n k D r i v i n g

)

. 6 R e m a r k a b l y

, t h e r e w e r e 4

. 5 t i m e s a s m a n y a l c o h o l

- r e l a t e d t r a f f i c f a t a l i t i e s ( 1 0 3 )

t h a n t h e r e w e r e h o m

i c i d e s ( 2 3 ) i n 2 0 0 8

. T h e n u m b e r s w e r e e v e n w o r s e i n 2 0 0 7 ( 1 2 4

a l c o h o l

- r e l a t e d t r a f

f i c f a t a l i t i e s v

e r s u s 1 4 h o m

i c i d e s )

. S e e M

o n t a n a C

r i m e R a t e

s

1 9 6 0

- 2 0 0 8

, h t

t p : / / w w w

. d i s a s t e r c e n t e r

. c o m

/ c r i m e / m t c r i m n

. h t m ( a c c e s s e d D e c

. 2 3

, 2 0 0 9 ) ;

M o n t a n a D r

u n k D r i v i n g S

t a t i s t i c s

, h t t p : / / w w w

. a l c o h o l a l e r t

. c o m

/ d r u n k

- d r i v i n g

- s t a t i s t i c s

m o n t a n a

. h

t m l ( a c c e s s e d D e c

. 2 3

, 2 0 0 9 )

. T h i s y e a r

, a l c o h o l h a s b e e n a f a c t o r i n 8 3 t r a f

f i c

d e a t h s

— o n e a l c o h o l

- r e l a t e d d e a t h e v e r y f o u r d a y s

. S e e E d i t o r i a l

, S o b e r i n g S t a t i s t i c s f o r

M o n t a n a ’ s H o l i d a y T r a v e l e r s

, B i l l i n g s G a z e t t e ( D e c

. 1 7

, 2 0 0 9 )

.2 5

telling them how much they are allowed to drink. It’s part of being a Montanan. On the

other side, the tavern owners say the problem is not theirs

— u n d e r s t a n d a b l y

, t h e y a r e i n

t h e b u s i n e s s o f s e l l i n g b o o z e

, a n d t h e m o r e s o l d

, t h e h i g h e r t h e p r

o f i t s

. E v e n t s p o n s o r s

( i n c l u d i n g t h e M o n t a

n a C h a m b e r o f C o m

m e r c e

, t h e H e l e n a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

, t h e

Montana University System, and Downtown Helena, Inc.) say the p roblem is not theirs

—

a f t e r a l l

, a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s a r e a “ s t a p l e ” a t m a n y e v e n t s

, a n d w i t h s o m a n y p e o p l e i t ’ s

j u s t t o o d i f

f i c u l t t o m a k e s u r e t h a t a l c o h o l i s n o t b e i n g s e r v e d t o t h o s e w

h o a r e u n d e r a g e

o r v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d

. S o t o o w i t h m a n y s o c i a l h o s t s

, w h o d o n o t b e l i e v

e i t i s t h e i r

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o p o l i c e t h e i r g u e s t s a n d s t o p t h o s e w

h o d r i n k t o e x c e s s f

r o m d r i v i n g

. I

n

s h o r t

, w h e n i t c o m e s t o M o n t a

n a ’ s c u l t u r e o f a l c o h o l a b u s e a n d d r u n k d r i v i n g a n d t h e

c a r n a g e o n i t s h i g

h w a y s

, t h o s e w

h o f u r n i s h t h e a

l c o h o l a r e q

u i c k t o p o i n t t

h e f i n g e r a t

anyone but themselves.

¶ 5 3 Indeed, every purveyor of alcohol wants, and usually gets, its own little “get out of

jail free” card. For instance, the tavern industry is practically falling over itself in support

of the D e p a r t m e n t o f R e v e n u e ’ s p r o p o s a l t o w e a k e n p e n a l t i e s f o r b a r s

, c a s i n o s

, a n d s t o r e s

t h a t i l l e g a l l y s e l l a l c o h o l t o m

i n o r s

, i f t h e y v

o l u n t a r i l y t r a i n t h e i r e m

p l o y e e s i n a c o u r s e

o n r e s p o n s i b l e a l c o h o l s a l e s a n d s e r v i c e

. See Charles S. Johnson, A l c o h o l S a l e s P e n a l t y

P r o p o s a l C o n t e s t e d , Helena Independent Record (Nov. 19, 2009). Yet, as Tawny

Haynes (widow of a Highway Patrol officer killed by a drunk driver earlier this year)

p o i n t e d o u

t d u r i n g D O R ’ s p u b l i c h e a r i n g

, “ O u r b a r t e n d e r s a n d s e r v e r s a r e t h e f

i r s t l i n e o f

d e f e n s e a g a i n s t d r

u n k e n d r i v i n g

. . . . I’d like to know when handing out a free pass and

g i v i n g s o m e o n e l e s s a c c o u n t a b i l i t y h a s e v e r e n c o u r a g

e d t h e m t o b e m o r e r e s p o n s i b l e

. ”2 6

S e e J o h n s o n

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n

t R e c o r d 1 1 A

. L i k e w i s e

, t h e I n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r

d

recently argued that “employee training should be a mandatory condition of all liquor

license holders, not a means to dodge responsibility.” Editorial, D o n ’ t W e a k e n I l l e g a l

A l c o h o l S

a l e s P e n a l t i e s

, H e l e n a I

n d e p e n d e n t R e c o r d 4 A ( N o v

. 2 4

, 2 0 0 9 )

. B u t t h a t i s

w h a t t h i s c a s e i s a l l a b o u t : f o r c i n g v i c t i m s t o p a y t h e c o s t s f o r t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d

u n l a w f u l c o n d u c t o f o t h e r s t h r o u g h s p e c i a l l a w s d e s i g

n e d t o b e n e f

i t a d i s c r e t e g r o u p o f

offenders.

¶ 5 4 T h e l a w a t i s s u e h e r e i s a p a r t i c u l a r l y o f

f e n s i v e e x a m p l e o f t h i s

. I t a r b i t r a r i l y b a r s

r e l i e f f o r s o m e v i c t i m s a n d a l l o w s o f f e n d e r s t o a v

o i d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o t h e

law’s purpose

—

w h i c h

, a s n o t e d

, i s t o a i d a n a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r i n g a t h e r i n g a n d p r e s e r v

i n g

e v i d e n c e c o n c e r n i n g a n i n

j u r y

- p r o d u c i n g i n c i d e n t o f w h i c h h e i s o t h e r w i s e u n a w a r e

. I f

t h e d e f e n d a n t d o e s n o t

, w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s o f s e r v i n g t h e a l c o h o l

, r e c e i v e n o t i c e b y c e r t i f

i e d

m a i l t h a t t h e p l a i n

t i f f i n t e n d s t o s u e

, t h e

n h e i s e n t i t l e d t o d i s m i s s a l o f t h e c a s e

. T h i s i s s o

whether or not the defen dant actually knew within that timeframe that he was going to be

s u e d

, w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e d e f

e n d a n t h a s p r e p a r e d a d e f e n s e d e s p i t e t h e p l a i n t i f

f ’ s f a i l u r e t o

m a i l t h e r e q

u i r e d n o t i c e

, a

n d w h e t h e r o r n o t w i t n e s s e s c o u l d s t i l l b e i n t e r v i e w e d a n d

evidence cou ld still be obtained. Indeed, dismissal is required even if the victim had no

way of determining the tavern’s identity within 180 days

— w h e r e

, f o r e x a m p l e

, t h e d r

u n k

d r i v e r w a s i n a c o m a

, o r p e r h a p s h a d f l e d t h e s c e n e

, a n d t h e r e w a s n o w a y o f a s c e r t a i n i n g

w h e r e h e o r s h e w a s d r i n k i n g o n t h e n i g h t i n q u e s t i o n

. D i s m

i s s a l i s a l s o r e q u i r e d w i t h o u t

r e g a r d t o t h e r e a l i t i e s f

a c e d b y t h e v

i c t i m s o f d r

u n k d r i v e r s

, w h o o f t e n a r e s e r i o u s l y

i n j u r e d a n d m

u s t u n d e r g

o t r e a t m e n t o r r e h a

b i l i t a t i o n

. S u c h v i c t i m s m i g h t n o t k n o w t h e2 7

e x t e n t o f t h e i r i n

j u r i e s d u r i n g t h e 1 8 0

- d a y p e r i o d ; b u t e v e n i f t h e y d o

, t h e i r f

o c u s i s o n

g e t t i n g h e a l e d

, n o t o n t h r o w i n g t h e d o c t o r s o u

t o f t h e h o s p i t a l r

o o m s o t h a

t t h e y c a n f

i n d

a l a w y e r t o f i l e a l a w s u i t

. L i k e w i s e

, i f t h e v i c t i m d i e s

, t h e f a m i l y m a y b e i n s h o c k a n d

s i m p l y t r y i n g t o p u t t h e i r l i v e s b a c k t o g

e t h e r d u r i n g t h e 1 8 0 d a y s f o l l o w i n g t h e d e a t h

. I

n

p o i n t o f f a c t

, a n d c o n

t r a r y t o t h e t a v

e r n i n d u s t r y ’ s v i e w o f s u i t

- h a p p y p l a i n t i f f s c h o m p i n g

a t t h e b i t

, t h e v i c t i m s o f d r

u n k d r i v e r s m o r e t h a n l i k e l y h a v e n e i t h e r t h e t i m e n o r t

h e

i n c l i n a t i o n t o c o n s i d e r t h e i r l e g a l o p t i o n s d u r i n g t h e s i x m o n t h s f o l l o w i n g t h e a c c i d e n t

.

T h e y n e e d t h e t h r e e y e a r s t h a t o t h e r t o r t p l a i n t i f

f s h a v e t o c o n d u c t a p r o p e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n

,

e x p l o r e l e g a l a c t i o n

, h i r e c o u n s e l

, a n d c o m m e n c e l i t i g

a t i o n

. Y e t

, t h e s e v i c t i m s

, b e c a u s e

o f t h e i r b a s i c n e e d t o r e c o v e r f r o m t r a u m a

, c o n s i d e r t h e i r o p t i o n s

, a n d t h e n a c t

, a r e d e

n i e d

t h e o p p o r t

u n i t y t o h o l d t h e n e g

l i g e n t o r ( a s h e r e ) w i l l f

u l a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r a c c o u n

t a b l e

.

T h e 1 8 0

- d a y s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n c u r t a i l s t h i s p r o c e s s a n d h a n d s t h e i r r e s p o n s i b l e a l c o h o l

p u r v e y o r t h e u l t i m a t e “ g

e t o u t o f j a i l f

r e e ” c a r d : i m m

u n i t y f r o m s u i t

.

II. ANALYTICAL APPROACH

¶ 5 5 In analyzing the constitutional questions presented in this case, it is necessary f irst

to supplement the Court’s wholly insufficient, six

- sentence recitation of the factual

c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w

h i c h t h e R o h l f

s ’ c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a

l l e n g e a r i s e s

. Cf. Brady v. PPL

Montana, LLC , 2008 MT 177, ¶ 5, 343 Mont. 405, 185 P.3d 330 (refusing to addres s

constitutional issues “in a relative vacuum”). I do so in Section III below.

¶ 5 6 Next, the legislative history of the 180

- day notice provision is likewise far more

involved than the Court’s brief discussion at ¶¶ 15

- 17 reflects. Moreover, in this regard,

t h e C o u r t i s f l a t i n c o r r e c t i n s t a t i n g a t ¶ 1 9 t h a t a c a u s e o f a c t i o n a g a i n s t a p u r v

e y o r o f2 8

a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s i s a “ s t a t u t o r y c l a i m

. ” I t i s n o t

. I

t i s a c o m m o n l a w n e g

l i g e n c e

a c t i o n a n d h a s b e e

n s i n c e l o n g b e f

o r e t h e L e g i s l a t u r e g

o t i n v o l v e d

. T r u e

, t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e

h a s i m p o s e d c e r t a i n l i m

i t s o n t h i s c a u s e o f a c t i o n

. B u t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e d i d n o t c r e a t e i t

, a s

t h e C o u r t e r r

o n e o u s l y s u g g e s t s

. F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s

, i n S e c t i o n I V

, I e x p l a i n t h e e v

o l u t i o n

of so

- called “dram

- shop liability” in this state and the tavern industry’s successful efforts

in getting the Legislature to reverse the progression of the law in this area.

¶ 5 7 L a s t l y

, i n i t s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a n a l y s i s t h e C o u r t c o n f

u s e s t h e c l a s s a t i s s u e h e r e

.

T h u s

, i n S e c t i o n V

, I i d e n t i f y t h e c o r r e c t c l a s s a n d e x p l a i n w h y t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e

p r o v i s i o n i s s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n

.

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

¶ 5 8 J o s e p h W a r r e n b e g a n d r i n k i n g a t t h e S t u m

b l e I n n i n V i c t o r a t a b o u t 2 : 0 0 p

. m

. o n

J u n e 2 9

, 2 0 0 6

. E l e v

e n h o u r s l a

t e r

, a t a r o u n d 1 : 0 0 a

. m

. o n J u n e 3 0

, W a r r e n l e f

t t h e

S t u m b l e I n n

, g o t i n t o h i s c a r

, a n d s p e d o u t o f t h e S t u m b l e I n n ’ s p a r k i n g l o t o n h i s w a y t o

a n o t h e r b a r a s h o r t d i s t a n c e a w a y

. W i t h o u t e v e r t o u c h i n g h i s b r a k e s

, W a r r e n s l a m m e d

i n t o C a r y R o h l f

s

, w h o w a s t r a v e l i n g n o r t h b o u n d o n U

. S

. H i g

h w a y 9 3

, w i t h i n t h e s p e e d

l imit, on his way to work. According to one witness, Warren was “spinning out across

t h e p a r k i n g l o t ” a n d “ d r o v e r i g h t i n t o t h a

t o t h e r c a r

. ” A

n o t h e r w i t n e s s s t a t e d t h a t W a r r e n

e n t e r e d t h e h i g

h w a y f r o m t h e p a r k i n g l o t a

t a h i g h r a t e o f s p e e d

, n e v

e r s l o w i n g o r

yielding to the highway traffic. As noted, Cary suffered serious injuries in the crash.

¶ 5 9 S e r g

e a n t S t e v e H o l t o n o f t h e R a v

a l l i C o u n t y S h e r i f

f ’ s O f f i c e r e s p o n d e d t o t

h e

s c e n e

. H e n o t e d t

h a t W a r r e n s m e l l e d s o s t r o n g l y o f a l c o h o l t h a

t h e c o u l d d e t e c t t h e o d o r

o n W a r r e n f

r o m e i g h t t o t e n f

e e t a w a y

. H o l t o n a l s o n o t e d t h a t W a r r e n ’ s s p e e c h s e e m e d2 9

impaired during his interactions with emergency medical services and fire department

personnel. Lisa Foley (a Stumble Inn bartender) told Holton that Warren had “ab out a

beer an hour” throughout her shift, which began at 6:00 p.m., and then had “a shot for a

n i g h t c a p ” a s s h e w a s c l o s i n g t h e b a r a t a r o u n d 1 : 0 0 a

. m

. S h e s a i d s h e h a d e n c o u r a g e d

W a r r e n t o c a l l f

o r a r i d e o r g

e t a t a x i

, b u t h e r e f

u s e d

. L i k e w i s e

, B o b b i e S m i t h ( o n e o f t h e

witnesses to the crash) reported that she thought Warren was intoxicated. Smith stated

that she had seen Warren drink two beers and one shot before leaving the bar. Another

witness, Jerry Craft, stated that Warren was “obviously too dru n k t o d r i v e

. ” Y e t a n o t

h e r

w i t n e s s

, M a r k M e t c a l f

, r e p o r t e d t

h a t h e t h o u g

h t W a r r e n w a s u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f

a l c o h o l a n d t h a t f o u r o r f i v e p e o p l e ( b e s i d e s F o l e y ) h a d t o l d W a r r e n n o t t o d r i v e

, f e a r i n g

he was too intoxicated.

¶ 6 0 Montana Highway Patrol Officer L ath Keith examined the scene of the crash. He

observed 157 feet of tire marks leading from the Stumble Inn to the place where

W a r r e n ’ s v e h i c l e w a s r e s t i n g

. T h e t i r e m a r k s w e r e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a c c e l e r a t i o n t h e e n t i r e

l e n g t h a n d s h o w e d n o s i g

n s o f b r a k i n g o r t u r n i n g

. K e i t h t h e n i n t e r v i e w e d W a r r e n a t t h e

hospital. When asked to explain what had happened, Warren stated: “I don’t remember

a damn thing.” Keith detected a very strong odor of alcohol on Warren’s breath, and he

o b s e r v e d t h a t W a r r e n ’ s e y e s w e r e b l o o d s h o t a n d g l a s s y a n d h i s s p e e c h s e e m e d s l u r r e d

.

W a r r e n s a i d t h a t h e h a d b e e n a t t h e S t u m

b l e I n n s i n c e a b o u t 2 : 0 0 p

. m

. , a n d h e e s t i m a t e d

that “I’ve probably had about four [MGD draft] beers and probably had about three shots

of Black Velvet.” Warren n o t e d t h a t h e h a d “ c h u g g e d ” h i s l a s t h a l f b e e r a b o u t 2 03 0

m i n u t e s b e f

o r e l e a v i n g t h e b a r

. H e a g r e e d t o p r o v i d e a b l o o d s a m

p l e

, w h i c h w a s d r a w

n

a t 3 : 3 0 a

. m

. ( 2

. 5 h o u r s a f t e r t h e a c c i d e

n t ) a n d r e v e a l e d a b l o o d a l c o h o l l e v e l o f 0

. 1 4

.

¶ 6 1 K e i t h s u b s e q u e n t l y c o n d u c t e d f o l l o w

- u p i n t e r v i e w s w i t h s e v e r a l o f t h e w i t n e s s e s

.

M e t c a l f s t a t e d t h a

t w h e n h e a r r i v

e d a t t h e S t u m

b l e I n n t h a t e v

e n i n g a t a r o u n d 9 : 0 0 p

. m

. ,

it was already apparent to him that Warren had been drinking. While he was there,

Metcalf observed Warren drin king beer at the bar, and he stated that Warren “got

progressively drunker as the evening went on.” Metcalf noted that the bartender had

“tried to slow his drinking down” and had even refused to serve Warren at one point.

Metcalf said that at the time Wa rren left the bar, he was “unable to control what he was

doing,” was “a little bit belligerent,” and was “obviously too drunk to drive.”

¶ 6 2 Foley reported that Warren is “a usual at our bar”; in fact, “he’s usually there most

of the time.” Foley confirmed th at Warren’s “usual routine” is to drink “about a beer an

hour” plus a shot of liquor “before he leaves.” Foley added that after the accident, she

observed Warren “on the ground kind of just, um, didn’t really know where he was kind

of thing.” Similarly, Smith told Keith that Warren “usually drinks about a beer per hour

and then before he goes home, he usually has one or two shots at the very end of the

night.” She noted that after the crash, Warren “just kind of fell out of the car.”

¶ 6 3 W a r r e n u l t i m a t e l y p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o n e g

l i g e n t v e h i c u l a r a s s a u l t p u r s u a n

t t o a p l e a

b a r g a i n u n d e r w

h i c h t h e S t a t e a g

r e e d t o d i s m

i s s c h a r g e s o f d r i v i n g u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e

and criminal endangerment. He is serving a five

- year sentence at Montana State Prison.

¶ 6 4 T h u s

, i n s u m

, t h e r e c o r d r e f l e c t s t h a t W a r r e n

, a r e g

u l a r p a t r o n a t t h e S t u m b l e I n n

,

w a s t h e r e f

o r e l e v e n h o u r s o n t h e d a y i n q u e s t i o n

. H e d r a n k b e e r t h r o u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d3 1

and also had three shots of Black Velvet. He was visibly intoxicated at 9:00 p.m. and got

“progressi v e l y d r

u n k e r ” a s t h e e v

e n i n g w e n t o n

. N e v

e r t h e l e s s

, S t u m

b l e I n n c o n t i n u e d t o

s e r v e W a r r e n a l l t h e w a y u p t o t h e f i n a l m i n u t e s b e f o r e t h e a c c i d e n t

. I

n d e e d

, h e c h u g g

e d

h i s l a s t h a l f b e e r 2 0 m i n u t e s b e f o r e l e a v i n g t h e b a r

, a n d h e h a d a s h o t f o r a n i g h t c a p

—

“ one more for the road,” as they say

— as the bartender was closing the bar. Warren then

g o t i n t o h i s c a r

, a l t h o u g

h h e w a s “ o b v

i o u s l y ” t o o d r

u n k t o d r i v

e

, a n d a q u i c k 1 5 7 f

e e t o f

b u r n t r u b b e r l a t e r

, h e s m a s h e d i n t o C a r y R o h l f s

, c a u s i n g C a r y s e r i o u s i n j u r i e s

.

¶ 6 5 Y e t

, d e s p i t e t

h i s m i s c o n d u c t

, S t u m

b l e I n n n o w b r a z e

n l y a t t e m p t s t o p o r t r a y i t s e l f

and the tavern industry generally as the victims here

— v i c t i m s o f u n j u s t l a w s u i t s s p r

u n g

o n u n s u s p e c t i n g d e f

e n d a n t s b y s u i t

- h a p p y p l a i n t i f f s

, a n d a g a i n s t w h i c h t h e s e d e f

e n d a n t s

h a v e n o a b i l i t y d e f

e n d t h e m s e l v

e s a b s e n t t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n

.

T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t S t u m

b l e I n n i s u n a b l e t o m o u n

t a

d e f e n s e t o t h e R o h l f

s ’ c l a i m s

. R a t h e r

, S t u m b l e I n n i s s i m p l y i n v o k i n g a s p e c i a l l a w

s k i l l f u l l y c r a f t e d b y t h e t a v

e r n i n d u s t r y a n d r e a d i l y e n a c t e d b y t h e L e g i s l a t u r e t o f o r c e t h e

R o h l f s t o p a y t h e c o s t s o f S t u m b l e I n n ’ s i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d g r o s s n e g l i g e n c e

.

IV. BACKGROUND OF THE NOTICE PROVISION

¶ 6 6 T o f

u l l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s u n d e r w h i c h t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n

w a s e n a c t e d i n 2 0 0 3

, i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s t a r t 7 0 y e a r s e a r l i e r

. C o i n c i d i n g w i t h t h e r e p e a l

o f P r o h i b i t i o n

, s e e U

. S

. C o n s t

. a m e n d

. X X I ( r a t i f i e d D e c

. 5

, 1 9 3 3 )

, t

h e L e g i s l a t u r e p a s s e d

t h e S t a t e L i q u o r C o n

t r o l A c t o f M o n t a n a ( L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 3

, c h

. 1 0 5 ) a n d t h e

M o n t a n a B e e r A c t ( L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 3

, c h

. 1 0 6 )

, t h e s t a t e d p u r

p o s e o f w h i c h w a s t o

c o n t r o l a n d r e g u l a t e t h e s a l e o f a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s w i t h i n t h i s s t a t e

. See L a w s o f3 2

Montana, 1933, ch. 1 0 5

, § 1 0 2

. F i v e y e a r s l a t e r

, t h e v

o t e r s a p p r

o v e d t h e M o n

t a n a R e t a i l

L i q u o r L i c e n s e A c t ( L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 7

, c h

. 8 4 ; see Laws of Montana, 1939, at

731

- 42), which imposed additional restrictions on the sale and distribution of alcoholic

beverages “for the protection, h ealth, welfare and safety of the people of the state.” Laws

of Montana, 1937, ch. 8 4

, p r e a m b l e ( c o d i f

i e d a t § 4

- 4 0 1

, R C M ( 1 9 4 7 ) )

. O f r e l e v a n c e

h e r e

, t h e s e t h r e e a c t s b a r r e d t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s t o a p e r s o n w

h o i s

actually, apparently, or obviously intoxicated. 7

¶ 6 7 T h i s C o u r t a d d r e s s e d t h e i s s u e o f l i a b i l i t y t o a t h i r d p a r t y u n d e r t h e s e s t a t u t e s i n

N e v i n v

. C a r l a s c o

, 1 3 9 M o n t

. 5 1 2

, 3 6 5 P

. 2 d 6 3 7 ( 1 9 6 1 )

. T h e p l a i n t i f f / a p p e l l a n t ( H e l e n

N e v i n ) w a s i n

j u r e d i n t h e L e d o B a r o n J

u n e 7

, 1 9 5 3

, u n d e r t

h e f o l l o w i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s :

T h e r e c o r d

. . . d i s c l o s e s t h a t o n e W i l b u r W o r k m a n w a s s e a t e d a t t h e

e a s t e n d o f t h e b a r a n d t h a t t o h i s l e f

t w a s a g i r l b y t h e n a m e o f S a n d r a

, a

p r e s u m e d c o m

p a n i o n o f W o r k m a n

. T h e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d

s h o w i n g t h a t t h e r e s p o n d e n t s h a d s e r v

e d W i l b u r W o r k m a n a n y i n t o x i c a t i n g

l i q u o r t h o u g h t h e r e c o r d d o e s d i s c l o s e t h a t h e h a d a g l a s s p a r t i a l l y f

i l l e d

with an amber fluid and ice in front of him; that he was creating no

7 S e e e

. g

. Laws of Montana, 1933, ch. 105, § 55 (codified at § 4

- 1 6 0

, R C M ) ( “ N o

v e n d o r

, b e e r l i c e n s e e

, o r c l u b l i c e n s e e

, n o r a n y e m p l o y e e o f a v e n d o r

, b e e r l i c e n s e e

, o r

c l u b l i c e n s e e

, s h a l l s e l l a n y l i q u o r

, o r p e r m

i t a n y l i q u o r t o b e s o l d

, t o a n y p e r s o n

a p p a r e n t l y u n d e r t h e i n f

l u e n c e o f l i q u o r

. ” ) ; L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 3

, c h

. 1 0 5

, § 6 2

( c o d i f i e d a t § 4

- 1 6 7

, R C M ) ( “ N o p e r s o n s h a l l

. . . [ g ] i v e a n y l i q u o r t o a n y p e r s o n

a p p a r e n t l y u n d e r t

h e i n f l u e n c e o f l i q u o r

. ” (

p a r a g r a p h b r e a k s o m

i t t e d ) ) ; L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 3

, c h

. 1 0 6

, § 3 1

, a m e n d e d

, L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 3

- 3 4

, E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i o n

, c h

. 4 6

, § 1 1 ( c o d i f

i e d a t § 4

- 3 3 0

, R C M ) ( “ I t s h a l l b e u n l a w f

u l

. . . f o r a n y p e r s o n

, f

i r m o r

c o r p o r a t i o n t o s e l l o r d i s p o s e o f b e e r t o a n y p e r s o n w h o s h a l l a p p e a r t o b e i n a n

i n t o x i c a t e d o r d i s o r d e r l y c o n d i t i o n

. . . . ” ) ; L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 7

, c h

. 8 4

, § 1 1

,

a m e n d e d

, L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 3 9

, c h

. 2 2 1

, § 3 ( c o d i f i e d a t § 4

- 4 1 3

, R C M ) ( “ N o l i c e n s e e

o r h i s o r h e r e m

p l o y e e o r e m

p l o y e e s s h a l l s e l l

, d e l i v

e r o r g i v e a w a y o r c a u s e o r p e r m i t t o

b e s o l d

, d e l i v

e r e d o r g i v

e n a w a y a n y l i q u o r

, b e e r o r w i n e t o

. . . [ a ] n y i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n

o r a n y p e r s o n a c t

u a l l y

, a p p a r e

n t l y o r o b v

i o u s l y i n t o x i c a t e d

. ” ( p a r a g r a p h b r e a k s o m i t t e d ) )

. I t is still unlawful to give an alcoholic beverage to “any person actually, apparently, or

o b v i o u s l y i n t o x i c a t e d

. ” S e c t i o n 1 6

- 3

- 3 0 1 ( 4 )

, M C A ( 2 0 0 9 ) ; see also § 1 6

- 6

- 3 0 4

, M C A

.3 3

d i s t u r b a n c e a n d n e i t h e r w a s h e n o i s y n o r b o i s t e r o u s

. I t f u r t h e r a p p e a r s t h a

t

W o r k m a n [

, ] m o t i v

a t e d b y t h e i r r e s i s t i b l e c a l l o f a f f e c t i o n

, e n d e a v

o r e d t o

c o m m e n c e o s c u l a t o r y e x e r c i s e s w i t h S a n d r a

. S h e b e i n g t h e e t e r n a l f e m a l e

a t t h e m o m e n t d e c i d e d s h e d i d n o t w a n t t o b e k i s s e d a n d s h o v e d W o r k m a n

,

w h o i n t u r n f e l l o f f t h e b a r s t o o l a n d i n

j u r e d [ N e v

i n ]

, b y k n o c k i n g h e r t o t

h e

f l o o r a n d i n

j u r i n g h e r r i g

h t a n k l e

. [ N e v

i n ] t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e d i d n o t n o t i c e

W o r k m a n

, t h a

t s h e m a d e n o c o m

p l a i n t a b o u t h i m t o a

n y o n e

, a n d t h a t s h e

d i d n o t s e e a n y o n e s e r v

e W o r k m a n a d r i n k o f a n y t h i n g

.

N e v i n , 139 Mont. at 513, 365 P.2d at 637

- 38.

¶ 6 8 N e v i n f

i l e d s u i t a g

a i n s t t h e b a r o w

n e r s t o r e c o v

e r d a m a g e s f o r h e r i n j u r i e s

. T h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, h o w e v

e r

, g r a n t e d a j u d g m e n t o f n o n s u i t o n b e h a l f o f t h e d e f

e n d a n t s o n t

h e

g r o u n d s t h a t t h e c o m

p l a i n t f a i l e d t o s t a t e a c a u s e o f a c t i o n

, t h a t N e v i n h a d f a i l e d t o

p r o d u c e c o m p e t e n t e v i d e n c e t o p r

o v e a c a u s e o f a c t i o n

, a n d t h a t t h e r e w a s i n s u f

f i c i e n t

e v i d e n c e t o j u s t i f

y t h e c a s e g

o i n g t o t h e j u r y

. Nevin

, 1 3 9 M o n t

. a t 5 1 3

- 1 4

, 3 6 5 P

. 2 d a

t

6 3 8

. O n a p p e a l

, N e v

i n a r g u e d ( a m o n g o t h e r t h e o r i e s ) t h a t t h e b a r o w n e r s h a d v

i o l a t e d

c e r t a i n l a w s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e l i q u o r b u s i n e s s

— i n p a r t i c u l a r

, § § 4

- 1 6 7 a n d 4

- 1 5 9

, R C M

( 1 9 4 7 )

. S e c t i o n 4

- 1 6 7

, R C M

, p r o v i d e d t h a t n o p e r s o n s h a

l l ( a ) p e r m

i t d r u n k e n n e s s t o

t a k e p l a c e i n a

n y h o u s e o r o n a n y p r e m i s e s o f w h i c h h e i s o w

n e r

, t e n a n t

, o r o c c u

p a n t

,

( b ) p e r m i t a n y p e r s o n a p p a r e n

t l y u n d e r t h e i n f

l u e n c e o f l i q u o r t o c o n s u m e a n y l i q u o r i n

a n y h o u s e o r o n a

n y p r e m i s e s o f w h i c h t h e f

i r s t

- n a m e d p e r s o n i s o w n e r

, t e n a n

t

, o r

o c c u p a n t

, o r ( c ) g

i v e a n y l i q u o r t o a n y p e r s o n a p p a r e n t l y u n d e r t

h e i n f l u e n c e o f l i q u o r

.

Section 4

- 159, RCM, provided, in pertinent part, that no person shall be in an intoxicated

condition in a public place.

¶ 6 9 As noted, there was no evidence in the record that Workman had been “a pparently

u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f l i q u o r ” w

h i l e h e w a s a t t h e b a r o r t h a t t h e b a r o w

n e r s h a d s e r v

e d3 4

h i m a n y i n t o x i c a t i n g l i q u o r

. A l l t h e r e c o r d d i s c l o s e d w a s t h a t h e h a d a g l a s s p a r t i a l l y

f i l l e d w i t h a n a m

b e r f l u i d a n d i c e i n f

r o n t o f h i m

, t h a t h e w a s n o t c r e a t i n g a d i s t u r b a n c e

,

and that he was neither noisy nor boisterous. This state of the evidence was sufficient to

d i s p o s e o f N e v i n ’ s c l a i m u n d e r t h e f o r e g o i n g s t a t u t e s

. N e v

e r t h e l e s s

, t h e N

e v i n Court

p r o c e e d e d g

r a t u i t o u s l y t o o f

f e r t h e v i e w t h a t “ w

h e n d a m a g e s a r i s e f

r o m v o l u n t a r y

i n t o x i c a t i o n

, t

h e s e l l e r o f t h e i n t o x i c a n t i s n o t l i a b l e i n t o r t f o r t h e r e a s o n t

h a t h i s a c t i s

not the efficient cause of the damage. The proximate cause is the act of him who imbibes

t h e l i q u o r

. ” N

e v i n , 139 Mont. at 515

- 16, 3 65 P.2d at 639.

¶ 7 0 T h u s e m e r g e d i n t h i s C o u r t ’ s j u r i s p r u d e n c e t h e d u b i o u s p r o p o s i t i o n t h a

t a p e r s o n

w h o s e l l s o r g i v

e s a n a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e t o a n u n d e r a g

e o r a p p a r e n t l y i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n

,

i n v i o l a t i o n o f M o n

t a n a l a w

, i s n o t t

h e l e g a l c a u s e o f i n

j u r i e s s u f f e red by a third person as

a r e s u l t o f t h e c o n s u m e r ’ s i n t o x i c a t i o n

. N o t a b l y

, t h e N e v i n Court provided no analysis,

and cited not a single shred of authority, in support of this rule. In any event, the Court

w e n t o n t o h o l d t h a

t N e v i n “ w a s o b l i g

e d t o p r o v

e a s e t o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h c r e a t e d a

d u t y t o t h e i n

j u r e d p a t r o n a n d f a c t s t h a t w o u l d p r

o v e a b r e a c h o f t h a t d u t y

. H a v i n g f a i l e d

t o d o s o t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t w a s c o r r e c t a n d i t i s h e r e b y a f f i r m e d

. ” N

e v i n

,

1 3 9 M o n t

. a t 5 1 6

, 3 6 5 P

. 2 d a t 6 3 9 ( c i t a t i o n o m i t t e d )

. T h e N

e v i n Court thus left open the

slim possibility that there could be liability under a different “set of circumstances.”

¶ 7 1 I n t h i s r e g a r d

, i t i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t d u r i n g t h i s s a m e p e r i o d

, v a r i o u s c o u r t s i n o t h e r

j u r i s d i c t i o n s w e r e r e e v a l u a t i n g t h e c o m m o n l a w r u l e t h a t t h e v e n d o r o f i n t o x i c a t i n g

l i q u o r c a n n o t b e h e l d l i a b l e f

o r f u r n i s h i n g a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s t o a c u s t o m e r w

h o i n t u r n

i n j u r e s a t h i r d p e r s o n

. A s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b e r o f t h e s e c o u r t s c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e s a l e o f3 5

a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s m a y b e t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o f s u c h i n j u r i e s a n d t h a t l i a b i l i t y m a y b e

i m p o s e d u p o n t h e v

e n d o r i n f

a v o r o f t h e i n

j u r e d t h i r d p e r s o n

. S e e V

e s e l y v

. S a g e r

, 4 8 6

P

. 2 d 1 5 1

, 1 5 7 ( C a l

. 1 9 7 1 ) ( c i t i n g c a s e s )

. I n o n e o f t h e l e a d i n g c a s e s

, t h e c o u r t r e a s o n e d

t h a t

[ w ] h e n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s a r e s o l d b y a t a v

e r n k e e p e r t o a m i n o r o r t o a n

i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n

, t

h e u n r e a s o n a b l e r i s k o f h a r m n o t o n l y t o t h e m i n o r o r

t h e i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n b u t a l s o t o m e m b e r s o f t h e t r a v

e l i n g p u b l i c m a y

r e a d i l y b e r e c o g

n i z e d a n d f

o r e s e e n ; t h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y e v i d e n t i n c u r r e n

t

t i m e s w h e n t r a v e l i n g b y c a r t o a n d f

r o m t h e t a v

e r n i s s o c o m m o n p l a c e a n d

a c c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g f

r o m d r i n k i n g a r e s o f

r e q u e n t

. I f t h e p a t r

o n i s a m i n o r

o r i s i n t o x i c a t e d w

h e n s e r v e d

, t h e t a v

e r n k e e p e r ’ s s a l e t o h i m i s u n l a w f u l ;

a n d i f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e s u c h t h a t t h e t a v e r n k e e p e r k

n o w s o r s h o u l d

k n o w t h a t t

h e p a t r o n i s a m

i n o r o r i s i n t o x i c a t e d

, h i s s e r v i c e t o h i m m a y

a l s o c o n s t i t

u t e c o m m o n l a w n e g

l i g e n c e

.

R a p p a p o r t v

. N i c h o l s

, 1 5 6 A

. 2 d 1

, 8

- 9 ( N

. J

. 1 9 5 9 ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d ) ; see also Waynick

v

. C h i c a g o ’ s L a s t D e p t

. S t o r e

, 2 6 9 F

. 2 d 3 2 2 ( 7 t h C i r

. 1 9 5 9 ) ; E l d e r v

. F i s h e r , 217 N.E.2d

847 (Ind. 1966).

¶ 7 2 S i m

i l a r l y

, a n o t h e r c o u r t r e a s o n e d t h a t w h i l e e a r l y c a s e s u n d e r s t a n d a b l y d i d n o t

r e c o g n i z e a n y d u t y o f a v

e n d o r o f i n t o x i c a t i n g b e v e r a g e s to the traveling public because a

serious hazard did not then exist, “[t]oday, the hazards of travel by automobiles on

modern highways has become a national problem” and “[t]he drunken driver is a threat to

t h e s a f e t y o f m a n y

. ” B e r k

e l e y v

. P a r k , 262 N.Y.S.2d 290, 293 (Sup. Ct. 1965). The

court concluded that “ ‘[p]recedents drawn from the days of travel by stagecoach do not

fit the conditions of travel to

- day’ ” and that “modern conditions dictate the adaptation of

t h e c o m m o n l a w

. ” B e r k

e l e y

, 2 6 2 N

. Y

. S

. 2 d a t 2 9 3 ( q u o t i n g MacPherson v. Buick Motor

Co.

, 1 1 1 N

. E

. 1 0 5 0

, 1 0 5 3 ( N

. Y

. 1 9 1 6 ) )

. T o t h a t e n d

, t h e c o u r t r e

j e c t e d t h e “ s i m

p l y3 6

u n r e a l ” r u l e t h a t t h e s e l l i n g o f a l c o h o l c a n n o t b e a p r

o x i m a t e c a u s e o f s u b s e q u e n t

i n j u r i e s

. S e e B e r k

e l e y , 26 2 N.Y.S.2d at 293

- 94.

¶ 7 3 A n o t h e r s i g

n i f i c a n t d e c i s i o n f

o r p u r p o s e s o f t h e p r e s e n

t d i s c u s s i o n i s D e e d

s v

.

U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 3 0 6 F

. S u p p

. 3 4 8 ( D

. M o n t

. 1 9 6 9 )

. I n D e e d s

, A i r F o r c e p e r s o n n e l s o l d o r

o t h e r w i s e d i s p e n s e d i n t o x i c a t i n g l i q u o r t o G e r a l d T a n b e r g ( a 1 9

- y e a r

- o l d a i r m a n ) d u r i n g

a p a r t y a t t h e N o n

- C o m

m i s s i o n e d O f

f i c e r s C l u b a t t

h e H a v r e A i r F o r c e S t a t i o n ( l o c a t e d

3 9 m i l e s n o r t h o f H a v r e

, M o n t a n a ) o n M a y 3 0 a n d 3 1

, 1 9 6 3

. T h e i n d i v i d u a l s d i s p e n s i n g

t h e l i q u o r k

n e w t h a t T a n b e r g w a s d r i n k i n g t o e x c e s s

, b u t t h e y c o n t i n u e d t o s e r v e h i m

n o n e t h e l e s s

. L a t e r

, b e t w e e n 2 : 0 0 a n d 3 : 0 0 a

. m

. , T a n b e r g a g r e e d t o g i v e G e r a l d F r e e l a n d

( a n o t h e r 1 9

- y e a r

- o l d a i r m a n ) a n d S a n d r a D e e d s ( a 1 7

- y e a r

- o l d h i g h s c h o o l j u n i o r ) a r i d e

t o H a v r e i n T a n b e r g ’ s c a r

. D u r i n g t h e t r i p

, T a n b e r g d r o v e i n a g r o s s l y n e g

l i g e n t a n d

r e c k l e s s m a n n e r ; a n d w

h i l e t r a v e l i n g a t a n e x c e s s i v

e r a t e o f s p e e d

, h i s c a r l e f t t h e r o a d

a n d r o l l e d o v

e r

, w r e c k i n g t h e c a r a n d i n

j u r i n g t h e t h r e e o c c u

p a n t s

. S e e D e e d

s , 306

F. Supp. at 349

- 50, 353

- 54.

¶ 7 4 D e e d s t h e r e a f

t e r s o u g h t d a m a g e s f o r h e r i n j u r i e s

. A t t h e o u

t s e t o f i t s a n a l y s i s

, t h e

c o u r t n o t e d t

h a t i n s e r v i n g l i q u o r t o T a n b e r g

, t h e A i r F o r c e p e r s o n n e l f l a g r a n t l y v i o l a t e d

§ 4

- 413, RCM (prohibiting the provision of liquor, beer, or wine to “any person actually,

apparently or o b v

i o u s l y i n t o x i c a t e d ” )

. D e e d s , 306 F. Supp. at 354. The court then turned

t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f w

h e t h e r t h e r e i s “ a r i g

h t o f a c t i o n u

n d e r M o n

t a n a l a w a g

a i n s t t h e

p e r s o n s e l l i n g o r f

u r n i s h i n g i n t o x i c a t i n g l i q u o r t o a m i n o r o r i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n i n f

a v o r

o f a p e r s o n i n

j u r e d b y t h e i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n a s a c o n s e q u e n c e o f h i s i n t o x i c a t i o n

. ”

D e e d s

, 3 0 6 F

. S u

p p

. a t 3 5 4

. C o n c l u d i n g t h a t t h i s C o u r t h a d n o t d e c i d e d t h i s q u e s t i o n i n3 7

N e v i n

, s e e D e e d

s

, 3 0 6 F

. S u

p p

. a t 3 5 4

, 3 6 0

, t h e c o u r t a n a l y z e d n u m e r o u s c a s e s f

r o m

o t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n s a n d f

o u n d t h a t t h e t r e n d i n r e c e n

t c a s e s w a s t o p e r m

i t r e c o v e r y w h e r e a

s t a t u t e m a d e i t i l l e g

a l t o s e l l o r d i s p e n s e l i q u o r t o m i n o r s a n d i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n s

, D e e d s

,

306 F. Supp. at 354

- 58. The court observed that Montana had such a stat ute (§ 4

- 413,

RCM) and that this statute and others regulating the provision of intoxicating beverages

were enacted “ ‘for the protection, health, welfare and safety of the people of the state.’ ”

D e e d s , 306 F. Supp. at 358

- 59 (quoting § 4

- 401, RCM). Fin ally, the court considered the

q u e s t i o n o f p r o x i m a t e c a u s e

. A s a n i n i t i a l m a t t e r

, t h e c o u r t r e j e c t e d t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s

a r g u m e n t t h a t M o n

t a n a s h o u l d f

o l l o w t h e r

u l e o f F l e c k n e r v

. D i o n n e , 210 P.2d 530 (Cal.

App. 1st Dist. 1949) (the proximate cause of injury is the patron’s voluntary consumption

of liquor, not the defendant’s illegal sale of it). The court observed that this rule was a

“ ‘back

- eddy running counter to the mainstream of modern tort doctrine.’ ” D e e d s

, 3 0 6

F

. S u p p

. a

t 3 5 9 ( q u o t i n g F

u l l e r v

. S t a n d a r d S t a t i o n s

, I n c

. , 5 8 C a

l

. R p t r

. 7 9 2

, 7 9 4 ( C a l

.

A p p

. 3 d D i s t

. 1 9 6 7 ) )

. T h e c o u r t p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e r u l e o f p r o x i m a t e c a u s e i n M o n t a n a

s i m p l y r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e i n

j u r i o u s c o n s e q u e

n c e b e a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e o r i g i n a l n e g

l i g e n c e

a s a r e s u l t w

h i c h m i g h t r e a s o n a b l y h a v

e b e e n f o r e s e e n a s p r o b a b l e ; i

. e

. , i t i s s u f f i c i e n t i f

t h e f a c t s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e s u c h t h a t t h e c o n s e q

u e n c e i s w i t h i n t h e f

i e l d o f r e a s o n a b l e

a n t i c i p a t i o n

. D e e d

s

, 3 0 6 F

. S u p p

. a t 3 6 1 ( c i t i n g R e i n o v

. M o n t a n a M i n e r a l L a n d D e v

.

C o

. , 3 8 M o n

t

. 2 9 1

, 9 9 P

. 8 5 3 ( 1 9 0 9 )

, a n d M i z e v

. R o c k

y M t

. B e l l T e l

. C o

. , 38 Mont. 521,

100 P. 971 (1909)).

¶ 7 5 A p p l y i n g t h e s e r

u l e s

, t h e c o u r

t h e l d t h a t t h e A i r F o r c e p e r s o n

n e l “ w h o s o l d a n d

s e r v e d t h e l i q u o r t o a

n i n t o x i c a t e d m

i n o r

, k n o w i n g t h a t i t w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e3 8

a i r m e n a t t h e p a r t y t o r e t u r n t h e i r d a t e s t o H a v

r e b y p r i v a t e a u t o m o b i l e

, c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y

f o r e s e e o r a n t i c i p a t e s o m e a c c i d e n t o r i n j u r y a s a r e a s o n a b l e a n d n a t u r a l c o n s e q u e

n c e o f

t h e i r i l l e g a l a n d n e g

l i g e n t a c t s

. ” D e e d

s , 306 F. Supp. at 361. The court noted that this

was particularly true “in view of the ever increasing incidence of serious automobile

a c c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g f

r o m d r u n k e n d r i v i n g

. ” D e e d

s

, 3 0 6 F

. S u p p

. a

t 3 6 1

. T h u s

, i n s e e m

i n g

c o n t r a d i c t i o n t o t

h e v i e w s t a t e d i n N

e v i n

, t h e D e e d

s court held that “the sale and serving

of liquor to Tanberg in violation of Montana law was a proximate cause of the accident

a n d r e s u l t i n g i n

j u r i e s t o p l a i n t i f

f

. ” D e e d s , 306 F. Supp. at 361.

¶ 7 6 T h i s C o u r t a c k

n o w l e d g e d t h e h o l d i n g o f D e e d

s i n R u n g e v

. W

a t t s , 180 M ont. 91,

589 P.2d 145 (1979), where the defendant (a social host) served alcohol to Watts (a

m i n o r ) a n d W a t t s ’ i n t o x i c a t i o n l a t e r r e s u l t e d i n a c a r a c c i d e n t c a u s i n g R u n g e ’ s i n j u r y

.

T h e R u n g e C o u r t d e c i d e d

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t D e e d

s w a s n o t c o n t r

o l l i n g

, e x p l a i n i n g t h a t

[ t ] r a d i t i o n a

l l y

, t h e r e h a s b e e n g

r e a t e r j u s t i f

i c a t i o n f o r i m p o s i n g l i a b i l i t y o n

a c o m m e r c i a l p u r v

e y o r t h a n o n a s o c i a l p u r v e y o r

. T h e r e i s a g

r e a t e r n e e d

f o r s o m e c h e c k o n t h e p e c u n i a r y m o t i v

e s o f t h o s e e n g

a g e d i n t h e b u s i n e s s

o f s e l l i n g a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

. I n a d d i t i o n a c o m m e r c i a l v e n d o r i s i n a

b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o o b s e r v e h i s c u s t o m e r s a n d m o n i t o r t h e i r l e v e l o f

i n t o x i c a t i o n b y v

i r t u e o f t h e f

a c t t h a t t h e s e l l e r i s m o r e l i k e l y t o

c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e p a t r

o n e a c h t i m e h e s e r v

e s a n e w d r i n k

.

Runge , 180 Mont. at 94, 589 P.2d at 147. The Court acknowledged “the high incidence

of automobile accidents attributable to intoxication” and the fact that “innocent third

p a r t i e s s t a n d t o s u f

f e r s u b s t a n t i a l h a r m i n s u c h s i t u a t i o n s

. ” R u n g e

, 1 8 0 M o n

t

. a t 9 4

, 5 8 9

P

. 2 d a t 1 4 7

. N e v

e r t h e l e s s

, t h e C o u r t r e a f f i r m e d t h e r

u l e s t a t e d i n N

e v i n and held that

“Watts’ drinking and not defendant’s serving the beer was the proximate cause of the

a c c i d e n t

. ” R u n

g e

, 1 8 0 M o n

t

. a t 9 4

, 5 8 9 P

. 2 d a

t 1 4 7

. A t t h e s a m e t i m e

, h o w e v e r

, a n d i n3 9

s e e m i n g c o n t r a d i c t i o n t o t

h i s h o l d i n g

, t h e C o u r

t n o t e d ( i n m o r e g

r a t u i t o u s d i c t a ) t h a

t a

c a u s e o f a c t i o n c o u l d b e b r o u g h t a g a i n s t a f u r n i s h e r o f a l c o h o l i f t h e p e r s o n t o w h o m t h e

liquor was sold or given was “ ‘in such a state of helplessness .

. . as to be deprived of his

willpower or responsibility for his behavior.’ ” R u n g e

, 1 8 0 M o n t

. a t 9 3

, 5 8 9 P

. 2 d a t

1 4 6

- 4 7 ( e l l i p s i s i n R u n

g e ) ( q u o t i n g 4 5 A m

. J

u r

. 2 d Intoxicating Liquors § 554).

¶ 7 7 S u c h w a s t h e s t a t e o f t h e l a w t h r o u g h 1 9 8 5

. P

u r v e y o r s o f a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

e n j o y e d a s p e c i a l i m m

u n i t y i n M o n t a n a s t a t e c o u r t s t h a n k s t o a j u d i c i a l l y

- c r e a t e d

e x c e p t i o n t o t h e w e l l

- e s t a b l i s h e d r u l e s g o v e r n i n g f o r e s e e a b i l i t y a n d p r o x i m a t e c a u s e

.

O u r c o u r t s i n s u l a t e d t

h e s e p e r s o n s a n d e n

t i t i e s f r o m l i a b i l i t y f

o r t h e i r negligent conduct

by holding (without reasoned explanation) that a person’s act of consuming an alcoholic

b e v e r a g e

, n o t t h e p u r v

e y o r ’ s a c t o f f

u r n i s h i n g t h e b e v

e r a g e

, i s t h e s o l e p r

o x i m a t e c a u s e o f

a n y r e s u l t i n g i n

j u r i e s t o t h e i m

b i b e r o r t o a t h i r d p a r t y

. N e v i n

, 1 3 9 M o n

t

. a t 5 1 5

- 1 6

, 3 6 5

P

. 2 d a t 6 3 9 ; R u n g e

, 1 8 0 M o n t

. a t 9 4

, 5 8 9 P

. 2 d a t 1 4 7 ; F o l d a v

. C i t y o f B o z e m a n

, 1 7 7

M o n t

. 5 3 7

, 5 8 2 P

. 2 d 7 6 7 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ; S w a r t z e n b e r g e r v

. B i l l i n

g s L a b o r T

e m p l e A s s n

. , 1 7 9

M o n t

. 1 4 5

, 5 8 6 P

. 2 d 7 1 2 ( 1 9 7 8 )

. T h i s a p p r o a c h w a s f l a w e d f o r t h e r e a s o n s s e t o u t i n t h e

w e l l

- r e s e a r c h e d D e e d

s opinion

— a f

a c t w e f i n a l l y r e c o g

n i z e d i n N

e h r i n g v

. L a C

o u n t e

,

219 Mont. 462, 712 P.2d 1329 (1986), decided January 21, 1986. 8

¶ 7 8 T h e p e r t i n e n

t f a c t s o f N e h r i n g are as follows. Between 2:00 and 9:00 p.m. on

September 19, 1980, Michael Bottensek consumed four beers and smoked a joint of

m a r i j u a n a

. H e

, h i s b r o t h e r

, P a t t y T h o r i n g

, a n d J o l e n e M c G i l l i s t h e n d e p a r t e d f o r L e n n y ’ s

8 N o t a b l y

, b y t h i s p o i n

t i n t i m e

, a m a

j o r i t y o f j u r i s d i c t i o n s h a d s o m e f o r m o f d r a m

s h o p l i a b i l i t y

, w

h e t h e r b y s t a t u

t e o r t h r o u g

h j u d i c i a l c h a n g

e s t o t h e c o m

m o n l a w

. S e e

L a r g o C o r p

. v

. C r e s p i n

, 7 2 7 P

. 2 d 1 0 9 8

, 1 1 0 1 ( C o l o

. 1 9 8 6 )

, a n d s o u r c e s c i t e d t h e r e i n

.4 0

B a r i n B a i n v i l l e

, M o n t a

n a ( a b o u t 3 5 m i l e s f r o m t h e i r h o m e s i n W i l l i s t o n

, N o r t h D a k o t a )

.

O n t h e w a y

, B o t t e

n s e k d r a n k t w o m o r e b e e r s

. T h e y a r r i v e d a t a b o u t 1 0 : 0 0 p

. m

. , a n d

B o t t e n s e k t h e n c o n s u m e d r o u g h l y e i g h t m o r e b e e r s d u r i n g t h e n e x t t w o o r t h r e e h o u r s

.

H e w a s d r

u n k w h e n h e o r d e r e d h i s l a s t b e e r a n d h i s s p e e c h w a s s l u r r e d

. B y c l o s i n g t i m e

,

T h o r i n g

, M c G i l l i s

, a n d B o t t e n s e k ’ s b r o t h e r w e r e a l s o d r u n k

. J u s t b e f o r e l e a v i n g

, T h o r i n g

a n d M c G i l l i s b o u g

h t a f i f t h o f l i m e v

o d k a a n d a c a s e o f B u d w e i s e r b e e r

. A b o u t a n h o u r

l a t e r

, w h i l e o n t h e i r w a y h o m e

, B o t t e n s e k d r o v

e t h e w r o n g w a y o n a f

o u r

- lane divided

highway and struck head

- on an oncoming vehicle driven by Harold Nehring. Nehring

w a s k i l l e d

, a s w e r e T h o r i n g a n d M c G i l l i s

. A t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t

, B o t t e n s e k ’ s b l o o d

a l c o h o l l e v

e l w a s 0

. 2 0

. S e e N

e h r i n g , 219 Mont. at 464

- 65, 712 P.2d at 1331.

¶ 7 9 On appeal, we vacated the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of

t h e L a C o u

n t e s ( t h e o w n e r s a n d o p e r a

t o r s o f L e n n y ’ s B a r )

. E m p l o y i n g a n a n a l y s i s s i m i l a r

t o t h a t o f t h e D e e d

s c o u r t

, w e f i r s t o b s e r v

e d t h a t i t i s u n l a w f

u l t o s e l l o r g

i v e a n a l c o h o l i c

b e v e r a g e t o a n y p e r s o n a c t u a l l y

, a p p a r e n t l y

, o r o b v

i o u s l y i n t o x i c a t e d

. N

e h r i n g , 219

M o n t

. a t 4 6 7

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d a t 1 3 3 3 ( c i t i n g § § 1 6

- 3

- 3 0 1 ( 2 ) a n d 1 6

- 6

- 3 0 4

, M C A ( 1 9 7 9 ) )

. W e

n e x t o b s e r v

e d t h a t t h e s t a t e d p u r

p o s e o f t h e s e s t a t u t e s i s t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e w e l f a r e

,

h e a l t h

, p e a c e

, m o r a l s

, a n d s a f e t y o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h e s t a t e

. N e h r i n g , 219 Mont. at 468,

7 1 2 P

. 2 d a

t 1 3 3 3 ( c i t i n g § § 1 6

- 1

- 1 0 1 a n d

- 1 0 3

, M C A )

. W e c o n c l u d e d

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t t h e

s t a t u t e s w e r e i n t e n d e d t o p r o t e c t t h e p e o p l e o f t h e s t a t e g

e n e r a l l y

, r a t h e r t

h a n t o p r o t e c t

a g a i n s t a n y p a r t i c u l a r k i n d o f i n j u r y o r p r o v

i d e a c i v i l r e m e d y

. T h u s

, w e h e l d t h a t a

v i o l a t i o n o f t h e s t a t u t e s i s n o t n e g l i g e n c e p e r s e ; r a t h e r

, i t m a y b e r e l e v a n t i n d e t e r m

i n i n g4 1

w h e t h e r a d e f

e n d a n t ’ s c o n d

u c t w a s n e g

l i g e n t

. N

e h r i n g

, 2 1 9 M o n t

. a t 4 6 8

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d a t

1 3 3 3

. I n r e a c h i n g t h i s c o n c l u s i o n

, w e e x p l a i n e d t h a t

[ a ] n u n r e a s o n a

b l e r i s k o f h a r m i s m o r e l i k e l y u n d e r p r e s e n t d a y c o n d i t i o n s than in the past, when the common law bar to recovery was a majority

p o s i t i o n

. “

. . . [ T ] h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y e v i d e n t i n c u r r e n t t i m e s w h e n t r a v e l i n g

b y c a r t o a n d f

r o m t h e t a v

e r n i s s o c o m m o n p l a c e a n d a c c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g

f r o m d r i n k i n g a r e s o f

r e q u e n t

. ” R a

p p a p o r t

, 1 5 6 A

. 2 d a t 8

- 9

, c i t e d i n

D e e d s , 306 F.Supp. 348, 355. Current conditions i n Montana are such that

the literal application of the common law rule has become unjust. “When

t h e r e a s o n s o f a r

u l e c e a s e s

, s o s h o u l d t h e r u l e i t s e l f

. ” S e c t i o n 1

- 3

- 2 0 1

, M C A

. T h e r e f

o r e w e j u d i c i a l l y a d o p t t

h e a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e c o n t r o l s t a t

u t e s

a s f u r n i s h i n g a s t a n d a r d a g a i n s t w h i c h n e g l i g e n c e o r d u e c a r e c a n b e

m e a s u r e d

. A c c o r d i n g

l y

, a v i o l a t i o n t

h e r e o f i s e v

i d e n c e o f n e g

l i g e n c e

.

N e h r i n g

, 2 1 9 M o n

t

. a t 4 6 9

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d a

t 1 3 3 4 ( e l l i p s i s a n d s e c o n d b r a c k e t s i n N e h r i n g ).

¶ 8 0 T u r n i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f c a u s a t i o n

, w e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e r u l e s t a t e d i n N

e v i n

a n d r e a f f i r m e d i n R u n g e that the drinking of the intoxicating beverage, not the furnishing

thereof, is the proximate cause of any subsequent injury. We rejected this rule, however,

a s a “ N e a n d e r t h a l a p p r o a c h ” t o c a u s a t i o n

, s i n c e i t e x e m p t s t h e p u r v

e y o r o f a l c o h o l i c

b e v e r a g e s f r o m l i a b i l i t y w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o h i s o w

n n e g l i g e n c e o r f a u l t

. N e h r i n g

, 2 1 9

M o n t

. a t 4 7 1

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d a t 1 3 3 5

. R a t h e r t h a n p e r p e t u a t e t h i s s p e c i a l

, y e t t o t a l l y b a s e l e s s

e x e m p t i o n f o r a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r s

, w e i n s t e a d s i m

p l y f o l l o w e d o u r l o n g s t a n d i n g a p p r o a c h

to proximate cause in negligence cases:

“ I t i s s u f f i c i e n t i f t h e f

a c t s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e s u c h t h a t t h e

c o n s e q u e n c e s a t t r i b u

t a b l e t o t h e w r o n g f u l c o n d u c t c h a r g e d a r e w i t h i n t h e

f i e l d o f r e a s o n a b l e a n

t i c i p a t i o n ; t

h a t s u c h c o n s e q

u e n c e s m

i g h t b e t h e natural and probable results thereof, though they may not have been

s p e c i f i c a l l y c o n t e m

p l a t e d o r a

n t i c i p a t e d b y t

h e p e r s o n s o c a

u s i n g t h e m

. ”

N e h r i n g

, 2 1 9 M o n

t

. a t 4 7 0

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d a t 1 3 3 4 ( q u o t i n g R e i n o v

. M o n t a n a M i n e r a l L a n d

D e v

. C o

. , 3 8 M o n t

. 2 9 1

, 2 9 6

, 9 9 P

. 8 5 3

, 8 5 4

- 5 5 ( 1 9 0 9 ) )

. A p p l y i n g t h i s r

u l e

, w e h e l d t h a

t4 2

“ c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h e a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s s e r v e d

, s u b s e q u e n

t d r i v i n g

, a n d t h e l i k e l i h o o d

o f a n i n j u r y

- p r o d u c i n g a c c i d e n t a r e f o r e s e e a b l e i n t e r v

e n i n g a c t s w

h i c h d o n o t r e l i e v

e t h e

t a v e r n o p e r a t o r o f l i a b i l i t y f

o r n e g l i g e n c e

. ” N

e h r i n g

, 2 1 9 M o n t

. a

t 4 7 0

, 7 1 2 P

. 2 d a

t 1 3 3 5

.

W e t h e n r e m a n d e d t h e c a s e f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s

, g i v

e n t h a t g e n u i n e i s s u e s o f m a t e r i a l

f a c t r e m a i n e d

. N

e h r i n g , 219 Mont. at 472, 712 P.2d at 1336.

¶ 8 1 A f t e r N e h r i n g was handed down, much misinformation was publicly disseminated

about the decision through “[i]nadequate reporting, poorly informed editorial comments,

and propaganda dispensed by lobbyists for the Montana Tavern Associa t i o n

. ” S e e B i s s e t t

v

. D M I

, I n c

. , 2 2 0 M o n t

. 1 5 3

, 1 5 8

, 7 1 7 P

. 2 d 5 4 5

, 5 4 8 ( 1 9 8 6 ) ( M o r r i s o n & H a r r i s o n

, J J

. ,

s p e c i a l l y c o n c u r r i n g a n d d i s s e n t i n g )

. T o b e s u r e

, N

e h r i n g e f f e c t e d a c h a n g

e i n t h e l a w i n

t h a t M o n t a n a f i n a l l y j o i n e d t h e n

u m e r o u s j u r i s d i c t i o n s t h a t h a d a l r e a d y r e c o g n i z e d

d r a m

- s h o p l i a b i l i t y d u r i n g t h e p r e c e d i n g t h r e e d e c a d e s

. Y e t

, i t h a d a l w a y s b e e n t h e c a s e

,

u n d e r l o n g s t a n d i n g p r i n c i p l e s o f c o m m o n l a w n e g l i g e n c e

, t h a t o n e w

h o a c t s n e g

l i g e n t l y

a n d c a u s e s i n j u r y t o a n o t h e r i s l i a b l e f o r t h a t h a r m

. I n N e h r i n g

, w e s i m

p l y j e t t i s o n e d t

h e

N e a n d e r t h a

l p r o p o s i t i o n t h a

t a p u r v e y o r o f a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s c a n n o t b e a p r o x i m a t e

c a u s e o f a n i n

j u r y

- p r o d u c i n g a c c i d e n t

. T h i s

, o f c o u r s e

, h a d b e e n a s p e c i a l e x e m p t i o n i n

n e g l i g e n c e l a w h e r e t o f

o r e e n j o y e d e x c l u s i v

e l y b y a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r s

, w h i c h h a d l e f

t t h e m

f r e e t o d i s p e n s e t h e i r p r o d u c t w i t h o u t r e g a r d f o r t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s t o t h i r d p a r t i e s

. I n a n y

e v e n t

, N e h r i n g did not transfer accountability from the intoxicated person to the entity

that served him. The drunk dri v e r r e m a i n e d l i a b l e f

o r t h e v i c t i m ’ s i n

j u r i e s

. B u t t h e

t a v e r n w a s a l s o m a d e a c c o u n t a b l e f o r i t s s h a r e o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n c a u s i n g t h e i n j u r y

-4 3

p r o d u c i n g a c c i d e n t

. I

n s h o r t

, N

e h r i n g simply held that purveyors of alcoholic beverages

are subject to the same negligence principles as everyone else.

¶ 8 2 S u c h e q u a l i t y

, h o w e v e r

, w a s e v i d e n t l y i n t o l e r a b l e ; a n d t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y

, h a v i n g

l o s t i t s j u d i c i a l l y

- c r e a t e d i m m u n i t y f r o m s u i t

, i m m e d i a t e l y s o u g h t l e g i s l a t i v e l y

- c r e a t e d

i m m u n i t y f r o m s u i t

. T h e L e g i s l a t u r e

, i n t u r n

, p a s s e d H o u s e B i l l 1 3 ( H B 1 3 ) d u r i n g a s i x

d a y s p e c i a l s e s s i o n i n M a r c h 1 9 8 6

. See Laws of Montana, 1987, Special Session March

1986, ch. 1 (effective Apr. 4, 1986) (codified at § 27

- 1

- 710, MCA). HB 13 resurrected

t h e “ N e a n d e r t

h a l ” r u l e o f N e v i n by prov

i d i n g t h a t “ [ f

] u r n i s h i n g a p e r s o n w i t h a n

a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e i s n o t a c a u s e o f

, o r g r o u n d s f o r f i n d i n g t h e f

u r n i s h i n g p e r s o n o r e n t i t y

l i a b l e f o r

, i n j u r y o r d a m a g

e w h o l l y o r p a r

t l y a r i s i n g f

r o m a n e v

e n t i n v o l v i n g t h e p e r s o n

w h o c o n s u m e d t h e b e v

e r a g e

. ” See § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 3 )

, M C A ( 1 9 8 7 )

. H B 1 3 a l s o r e c o g n i z e d

t h r e e e x c e p t i o n s t o t

h i s r u l e w h e r e ( a ) t h e c o n s u m e r w a s u n d e r t h e l e g a l d r i n k i n g a g e a n d

the furnishing person knew that the consumer was underage or did not make a reasonable

attempt to determine the con s u m e r ’ s a g e

, ( b ) t h e c o n s u m e r w a s v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d

, o r

( c ) t h e f u r n i s h i n g p e r s o n f

o r c e d o r c o e r c e d t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o r t o l d t

h e c o n s u m e r t h a t t

h e

b e v e r a g e c o n t a i n e d n o a l c o h o l

. B u t a s i d e f r o m t h e s e t h r e e s i t u a

t i o n s

, t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y

again had its spe cial exemption from the traditional rules of proximate cause.

¶ 8 3 N u m e r o u s o r g

a n i z a t i o n s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s ( p r i m a r i l y t a v e r n o w n e r s ) t e s t i f

i e d i n

f a v o r o f H B 1 3

. N o o n e s p o k e a g a i n s t i t

. S e n a t o r J

. D

. L y n c h ( a c o

- sponsor) explained

that the bill addressed what h e c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s a “ r i d i c u l o u s ” r u l i n g o f t h i s C o u r t

.

S e n a t o r L y

n c h p o i n t e d t o n e w s p a p e r e d i t o r i a l s w h i c h a p p a r e n

t l y c o n s t r u e d N e h r i n g a s

a l l o w i n g t h e f

a r m e r w h o s o l d t h e b a r l e y t o b e h e l d l i a b l e f

o r a d r u n k

- d r i v i n g a c c i d e n t

.4 4

Representative Dave Brown (the chief sponsor) argued that the bill “places the

responsibility for one’s actions back on the individual where it belongs and from where

the Supreme Court chose to take it.” Several other proponents echoed this sentiment

—

t h o u g h

, a s n o t e d

, i t i s a c o m p l e t e m i s s t a t e m e n t o f o u r h o l d i n g i n N e h r i n g

. O t

h e r

p r o p o n e n t s a r g u e d t h a t H B 1 3 w a s v i t a l l y i m p o r t a n t t o l o w e r i n g t h e c o s t o f i n s u r a n c e

.

P h i l S t r o p e w i t h t h e M o n t a n a T a v e r n A s s o c i a t i o n s t a t e d t h a t l i q u o r l i a b i l i t y i n s u r a n c e

w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o o b t a i n o r t o o c o s t l y t o a f f o r d

. T h e M o n t a

n a B e e r a n d W i n e

W h o l e s a l e r s A s s o c i a t i o n l a m e n t e d t h e f a c t t h a t c o v e r a g e w a s b e c o m

i n g u n a v a i l a b l e a n d

c a u s i n g o r g

a n i z a t i o n s t h a t h o s t s o f

t b a l l t o u r n a m e n t s

, r o d e o s

, a n d s i m i l a r e v e n t s t o c a n c e l

p l a n s f o r b e e r s t a n d s a n d t

h e l i k e

. R e p r e s e n t a t i v

e B o b P a v

l o v i c h ( a n o t

h e r c o

- s p o n s o r )

s i m i l a r l y a r g

u e d t h a t 1

, 5 0 0 t a v

e r n s w e r e f

a c i n g t h e l o s s o f l i a b i l i t y i n s u r a n c e a n d i f t h e y

d i d n ’ t g e t s o m e r e l i e f

, “ t h e m a i n s t r e e t s o f M o n t a n a [ a r e ] g o i n g t o b e p r e t t y d a r k

. ”

R e p r e s e n t a t i v

e P a u l P i s t o r i a s t a t e d t h a t 1 0

, 0 0 0 p e o p l e i n t h e s t a t e w e r e e m

p l o y e d i n t

h e

alcohol industry and that “[s]omething has to be done for these people, and this is our

o p p o r t u n i t y t o h e l p t h e m

. ” I

n t h i s r e g a r d

, w

h i l e g r e a t c o n c e r n w a s e x

p r e s s e d f o r t h e

t a v e r n i n d u s t r y t h r o u g

h o u t t h e c o m m i t t e e h e a r i n g s

, n o t a b l y a b s e n t w a s a n y d i s c u s s i o n o f

society’s interest in preventing alcohol

- related injuries and fatalities and victims’ interest

i n o b t a i n i n g a j u s t r e m e d y

. N o r w a s a n y c o n c e r n e x p r e s s e d a b o u

t M o n t a n a ’ s c u l t u r e o f

a l c o h o l a b u s e a n d t h e c a r

n a g e o n i t s h i g

h w a y s c a u s e d b y d r

u n k d r i v e r s

.

¶ 8 4 I n 1 9 8 9

, t h e L e g i s l a t u r e a m e n d e d § 1 6

- 6

- 3 0 5

, M C A

, t o c l a r i f y t h a t p a r e n t s m a y

p r o v i d e m o d e r a t e a m o u n t s o f a l c o h o l t o t h e i r c h i l d r e n b u t m a y n o t g e t t h e m d r

u n k

. See

L a w s o f M o n t a n a

, 1 9 8 9

, c h

. 4 4 8

. I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h i s

, a c r o s s

- r e f e r e n c e t o4 5

§ 16

- 6

- 305, MCA, was added to § 27

- 1

- 7 1 0

, M C A

. B u t a s i d e f r o m t h i s

, § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

,

M C A

, r e m a i n e d u n c h a n g e d u n t i l 2 0 0 3

, w

h e n t h e L e g i s l a t u r e p a s s e d S e n a t e B i l l 3 3 7

( S B 3 3 7 )

. S B 3 3 7 a d d e d s i x n e w s u b s e c t i o n s ( i n c l u d i n g t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n a t

i s s u e h e r e )

, w

h i c h w e r e d e s i g

n e d t o f u r t h e r s h i e l d t h e t a v

e r n i n d u s t r y f

r o m l i a b i l i t y a n d

,

c o r r e s p o n d i n g

l y

, t o f u r t h e r l i m

i t t h e a b i l i t y o f v i c t i m s t o o b t a i n r e m e d i e s

. S e e Laws of

Montana, 2003, ch. 489. S e v e r a l o f t h e b i l l ’ s p r o p o n e n t s c i t e d C

u s e n b a r y v

. M o r t e n s e n

,

1999 MT 221, 296 Mont. 25, 987 P.2d 351, as justification for the amendments, and

S t u m b l e I n n l i k e w i s e r e f

e r s t o G l e n M o r t e n s e n ’ s p l i g h t w h e n e x p l a i n i n g t h e p u r

p o s e s o f

t h e b i l l i n i t s b r i e f o n a p p e a l

. T h u s

, b e f o r e d i s c u s s i n g t h e l e g i s l a t i v e p r o c e e d i n g s o n

S B 3 3 7

, i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o a d d r e s s t h e C u s e n b a r y decision and clarify its relevance.

¶ 8 5 O n t h e e v

e n i n g o f J u l y 2 8

, 1 9 9 3

, J a m e s W e l l s w a s d r i v e n b y h i s n i e c e t o t h e T o w n

T a v e r n i n G r e a t F a l l s

, M o n t a n a

. W e l l s h a d s u f

f e r e d a b r o k e n n e c k i n a n a c c i d e n t t w o

y e a r s e a r l i e r ; a n d a l t h o u g h h e h a d r e c o v

e r e d t o t h e p o i n t o f b e i n g a b l e t o w a l k w i t h o u t a

l i m p

, h e w o u l d l o s e c o n t r

o l o f h i s l e g s w

h e n h e c o n s u m e d a l c o h o l

. W e l l s w a s a l r e a d y

i n t o x i c a t e d w

h e n h e a r r i v

e d a t t h e T o w

n T a v e r n

, a n d s e v

e r a l f a m i l y m e m

b e r s t h e r e f

o r e

a s s i s t e d h i m f

r o m t h e v e h i c l e i n t o t h e b a r

, w

h e r e W e l l s u l t i m a t e l y c o n s u m e d a b o u t e i g h t

b e e r s o v e r a t w o

- hour period. One patron who observed Wells thought that he was “very

obviously” intoxic ated and “in a bad mood.” Wells shouted and yelled, and his speech

was very slurred. Wells would get “real quiet and groggy down and explosively snap up

and start barking at people.” Another patron noticed Wells immediately after entering the

bar becaus e Wells was “loud, obnoxious, and acting intoxicated.” This patron noted that

W e l l s w a s a r g

u i n g a n d t a l k i n g l o u d l y a n d w a s “ o b v i o u s l y i n t o x i c a t e d

. ” H e a l s o n o t i c e d4 6

t h a t W e l l s ’ s p e e c h w a s “ v e r y s l u r r e d ” a n d h a r d t o u n d e r s t a n d

. W e l l s ’ f

a m i l y f i n a l l y

p u s h e d h i m o u t o f t h e t a v e r n i n h i s w

h e e l c h a i r a n d p l a c e d h i m i n t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e o f a

vehicle. Wells then moved into the driver’s seat, started the vehicle, and drove it through

the tavern’s south wall, injuring Jonathan Cusenbary (another patron). Wells l ater stated

that he had no recollection of driving through the tavern wall and that he was “too

i n t o x i c a t e d t o e x e r c i s e g o o d j u d g m e n t

. ” C u s e n b a r y f i l e d s u i t a g

a i n s t M o r t e n s e n ( t

h e

o w n e r o f T o w

n T a v e r n )

, a n d a j u r y r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t a g a i n s t M o r t e n s e n i n t h e a m o u n t o f

$ 7 5 0

, 0 0 0

. See Cusenbary , ¶¶ 1, 7

- 11, 24.

¶ 8 6 O n a p p e a l

, M o r t e n s e n a r g u e d t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t s h o u l d h a v e g i v e n h i s p r o p o s e d

j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n r e g

a r d i n g h i s d e f

e n s e o f s u p e r s e d i n g c a u s e

. H e a s s e r t e d t h a t b e c a u s e

W e l l s a p p e a r e d t o b e p h y s i c a l l y i n capable of driving a vehicle, it was not foreseeable to

Mortensen or his employees that Wells would get into the driver’s seat of a vehicle and

injure someone. Mortensen claimed that Wells’ act was a superseding cause of

Cusenbary’s injuries that broke th e c h a i n o f c a u s a t i o n a n d c u t o f f M o r t e n s e n ’ s l i a b i l i t y

.

See Cusenbary , ¶¶ 2 2

, 2 7

. W e d i s a g r e e d

, f o r t w o r e a s o n s

. F i r s t

, w e o b s e r v e d t h a t W e l l s ’

d r u n k e n c o n d u c t w a s n o t f r e a k i s h

, b i z a r r e

, o r u n

p r e d i c t a b l e a s M o r

t e n s e n c l a i m e d

.

R a t h e r

, w e d e c i d e d a s a m a t t e r o f l a w t h a t h i s c o n d u c t w a s a r e a s o n a b l y f o r e s e e a b l e

c o n s e q u e n c e o f s e r v

i n g a l c o h o l t o a p e r s o n w h o w a s a l r e a d y i n t o x i c a t e d

. C u s e n b a r y

,

¶ ¶ 3 0

- 3 1

. C i t i n g N

e h r i n g a n d D e e d s

, w e o b s e r v

e d t h a t i t i s r e a s o n a b l y f o r e s e e a b l e t o

t h o s e w h o d i s p e n s e a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s t h a t s e r v i n g a p e r s o n w h o i s a l r e a d y i n t o x i c a t e d

m a y r e s u l t i n a n a c c i d e n t o r i n j u r y

. See Cusenbary , ¶¶ 33

- 36. Second, we rejected

M o r t e n s e n ’ s a t

t e m p t t o w r i t e i n t o t h e l a w a n e x e m

p t i o n u n d e r w

h i c h a t a v e r n o w n e r m a y4 7

serve unrestricted amounts of alcohol to a person who appears to the tavern owner or his

employees to be incapable of driving a motor vehicle. We noted that § 27

- 1

- 710(3)(b),

M C A

, r e f

e r s t o a c o n s u m e r w

h o i s “ v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d

, ” r e g

a r d l e s s o f t h a t p e r s o n ’ s

k n o w n o r a s s u m e d p h y s i c a l a b i l i t i e s

. O b v i o u s l y

, s u c h a p e r s o n m a y c a u s e h a r m t o

himself or to others through means other than driving. Furthermore, a bartender may not

b e q u a l i f i e d t o a s s e s s a c c u r a t e l y a p e r s o n ’ s p h y s i c a l a b i l i t i e s

. F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s

, t h e o n l y

s u b j e c t i v e s y m p t o m s a n a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r i s r e q u i r e d t o i n t e r

p r e t a r e t h o s e w

h i c h i n d i c a t e

v i s i b l e i n t o x i c a t i o n

. I f t h e p e r s o n i s “ v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d

, ” h e s h o u l d n o t b e s e r v e d

. T h e

f a c t t h a t t h e p e r s o n s e e m s p h y s i c a l l y i n c a p a b l e o f d r i v i n g i s n o t p a r t o f t h e e q

u a t i o n

, and

it certainly was not grounds for Mortensen and his staff to continue serving Wells in his

visibly intoxicated condition. More to the point, we held that Mortensen’s erroneous

assumptions about Wells’ physical abilities did not render Wells’ later dru nk driving any

less of a reasonably foreseeable intervening cause of Cusenbary’s injuries. In short,

M o r t e n s e n a

n d h i s b a r t e n d e r s c o u l d n o t b l a t a n t l y d i s r e g

a r d § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 3 ) (

b )

, M C A

, a n d

t h e n a r g u e t h a t t h e i r a c t i o n s w e r e n o t a p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o f C u s e n b a r y ’ s i n j u r i e s b e c a u s e

t h e y w r o n g l y a s s u m e d t h a t W e l l s w a s a q u a d r i p l e g i c

. See Cusenbary , ¶¶ 37

- 39.

¶ 8 7 W e a l s o h e l d t

h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r

t p r o p e r l y e x c l u d e d e v

i d e n c e o f W e l l s ’ c r i m

i n a l

c o n v i c t i o n s f o r d r i v i n g t h r o u g

h t h e t a v

e r n w a l l

. Cusenbary , ¶¶ 4 0

- 4 5

. T h e 2 0 0 3

L egislature responded to this particular holding by enacting § 27

- 1

- 710(9), MCA, which

s t a t e s t h a t “ [ e ] v i d e n c e o f i n t e n t i o n a l o r c r i m i n a l a c t i v i t y b y a p e r s o n c a u s i n g i n j u r y i n

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a n y e v

e n t o r i n j u r y c o m m e n c e d p u r s u a n t t o t h i s p a r t i s a d m i s s i b l e i n a n y

a c t i o n b r o u g h t p u r s u a n

t t o t h i s s e c t i o n

. ” T h e L e g

i s l a t u r e a l s o e

n a c t e d p r o v i s i o n s b a r r i n g4 8

t h e c o n s u m e r o f t h e a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e f r o m b r i n g i n g s u i t ( w i t h t w o n a r r o w e x c e p t i o n s )

,

d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h e f

a c t

- f i n d e r m a y c o n s i d e r t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f the alcoholic beverage in

determining the cause o f t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s i n j u r i e s

, a n d p l a c i n g l i m

i t s o n t h e a m o u n t o f

d a m a g e s r e c o v e r a b l e ( $ 2 5 0

, 0 0 0 c a p s o n n o n e c o n o m i c d a m a g e s a n d p u n i t i v

e d a m a g e s )

.

See § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 4 )

, ( 5 )

, ( 7 )

, ( 8 )

, M C A

. N o n e o f t h e s e a m e n d m e n t s a r e a t i s s u e h e r e

.

¶ 8 8 Rather, this case concerns the 180

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n c o d i f

i e d a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0 ( 6 )

,

M C A

. A s n o t e d

, t h e p r o p o n e n t s o f S B 337 cited Cusenbary as evidence of an alcohol

p u r v e y o r ’ s n e e d f

o r e a r l y n o t i c e t h a t h e i s g o i n g t o b e s u e d

. I

n d e e d

, M o r t e

n s e n t o l d t

h e

l e g i s l a t i v e c o m m i t t e e s t h a t h i s a b i l i t y t o p r e s e n t a d e f e n s e i n C u s e n b a r y w a s i m p a i r e d i n

p a r t b e c a u s e C u s e n b a r y c o m m e n c e d t h e a c t i o n a l m o s t t h r e e y e a r s a f

t e r W e l l s d r o v

e

t h r o u g h t h e w a l l a n d M o r

t e n s e n

, a t t h a t p o i n t

, c o u l d n o t l o c a t e w i t n e s s e s

. I t i s n e c e s s a r y

h e r e t o p o i n t o u

t

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t n o w

h e r e i n h i s b r i e f

s i n C u s e n b a r y did Mortensen present

the argument that he was unable to mount an effective defense due to the timing of

C u s e n b a r y ’ s f

i l i n g

. T h a t w a s n e v

e r r a i s e d a s a n i s s u e o n a p p e a l

, a n d i t d o e s n o t a p p e a r

t h a t M o r t e n s e n r a i s e d a n y s o r

t o f u n t i m e l i n e s s d e f

e n s e ( s u c h a s l a c h e s ) i n t h e t r i a l c o u r t

either. Rather, his defense was that Wells’ drunk driving was a superseding cause which

broke the chain of causation. This defe nse failed not because Mortensen couldn’t locate

witnesses or because evidence had been lost. It failed because Wells’ drunk driving was

a foreseeable intervening cause of Cusenbary’s injuries. There was ample evidence that

Wells had been “visibly intoxi cated” in the tavern, and Mortensen was fully able to

explain to the jury why he and his employees kept serving alcoholic beverages to Wells

i n t h a t c o n d i t i o n ( t

h e y t h o u g h t h e w a s a q u a

d r i p l e g i c )

. F u r t h e r m o r e

, M o r

t e n s e n ’ s c l a i m4 9

that he did not have access t o c e r t a i n w i t n e s s e s i s b e l i e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t W e l l s ’ s i s t e r s

t e s t i f i e d b y d e p o s i t i o n

. See Cusenbary

, ¶ 5 5

. B o t t o m l i n e

, t h e C u s e n b a r y decision is not

evidence that receiving early notice of a plaintiff’s intent to sue is essential to a tavern

owner’s ability to prepare her defense

— the proponents’ misstatements about the decision

notwithstanding

— and Mortensen’s testimony to the Legislature about why his defense in

that case failed was misleading (if not an outright misrepresentation).

¶ 8 9 T u r n i n g n o w t o t h e l e g i s l a t i v e p r o c e e d i n g s o n S B 3 3 7

, v a r i o u s o r g

a n i z a t i o n s a n d

i n d i v i d u a l s s p o k e i n f

a v o r o f t h e b i l l

. T h e M o n t a n a U n i v e r s i t y S y s t e m s u p p o r

t e d i t

. S o

d i d D o w n t o w n H e l e n a

, I

n c

. L i k e w i s e

, t h e M o n t a n a T o u r i s m C o a l i t i o n

, t h e M o n t a n a

I n n k e e p e r s A s s o c i a t i o n

, t h e M o n t a n a C h a m

b e r o f C o m m e r c e

, t h e H e l e n a C h a m b e r o f

C o m m e r c e

, t h e N a t i o n a

l F e d e r a t i o n o f I

n d e p e n d e n

t B u s i n e s s e s

, a n d t h e M o n t a n a B e e r

a n d W i n e W

h o l e s a l e r s A s s o c i a t i o n a l l s u p p o r t e d i t

. S e v

e r a l t a v e r n o p e r a t o r s o f

f e r e d t h e i r

s u p p o r t

, i n c l u d i n g R a l p h F e r r a r o ( R o c k i n g R B a r

, B o z e m a n )

, B o b F l e t c h e r ( C a n n e r y

L o u n g e

, B o z e m a n )

, a n d R i c k F l o t k o e t t e r ( T e x a s C l u b

, M i l e s C i t y )

. S o d i d t h e i n s u r a n c e

i n d u s t r y r e p r e s e n t a t i v

e s

, i n c l u d i n g J o h n H a y e s ( T a l b o t I n s u r a n c e A g

e n c y )

, J a c q u e l i n e

L e n m a r k ( A m e r i c a n I

n s u r a n c e A s s o ciation), and Scott Tuxbury (Big Sky Underwriters).

Many of the proponents cited concerns over “skyrocketing” costs and limited availability

of liquor liability insurance

— the very concern that the 1986 legislation supposedly

addressed. Some proponents al so cited “responsibility.” For example, the representative

from the Montana Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association stated that SB 337 “fits in

with the wholesalers’ platform of responsible consumption of our products. Don’t drive

drunk, and if you drive d r u n k

, y o u s h o u l d n o t b e r e w a r d e d b y b e i n g a b l e t o s u e t h e b a r

. ”5 0

S i m i l a r l y

, t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v

e s f r o m t h e M o n t a n a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

, t h e H e l e n a

C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

, a n d t h e M o n t a n a I n n k e e p e r s A s s o c i a t i o n a r g u e d t h a t p e o p l e

s h o u l d t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t heir actions and that SB 3 3 7 p u t s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y “ w

h e r e i t

belongs.” 9 N o t a b l y

, a s i n 1 9 8 6

, n o n e o f t h e p r o p o n e n t s d i s c u s s e d M o n t a n a ’ s c u l t u r e o f

a l c o h o l a b u s e a n d t

h e c a r n a g e o n i t s h i g

h w a y s c a u s e d b y d r

u n k d r i v e r s

. N o r d i d a n y o f

t h e m a d v o c a t e f o r s o c i e t y ’ s i n t e r e s t i n p r e v e n t i n g a l c o h o l

- r e l a t e d i n j u r i e s a n d v i c t i m s ’

r i g h t t o o b t a i n a j u s t r e m e d y

. R a t h e r

, t h e y q

u i t e r e m a r k a b l y p a i n t e d t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y

as the victim and increased immunity as the remedy.

¶ 9 0 W i t h r e s p e c t t o t

h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n s p e c i f

i c a l l y

, i t i s i m

p o r t a n t t o n o t e

h e r e t h a t t h e g e n e r a l l y a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u

t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s f

o r t o r t a c t i o n s i s t h r e e y e a r s

. I n

o t h e r w o r d s

, n e g l i g e n c e d e f e n d a n t s a r e s u b

j e c t t o s u i t f

o r t h r e e y e a r s a f

t e r t h e p l a i n t i f

f i s

i n j u r e d

. See § § 2 7

- 2

- 1 0 2

, - 2 0 4

, M C A

. A s i t d i d i n 1 9 8 6

, h o w e v e r

, t h e t a v

e r n i n d u s t r y

d e c i d e d t h a t t h e r u l e s a p p l i c a b l e t o e v

e r y b o d y e l s e s h o u l d n o t b e a p p l i c a b l e t o p u r v

e y o r s

o f a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

. S p e c i f

i c a l l y

, t h e i n d u s t r y a n d i t s s u p p o r t e r s s o u g h t a s h o r t e r

s t a t u t e o f l i m

i t a t i o n s of two years. As an alternative to this, they argued that they should

be given early notice of a plaintiff’s intent to sue. The Legislature, evidently all too

willing to oblige, granted them both

— i

. e

. , t h e i r o w n s p e c i a l t w o

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n s a n d t

h e i r o w n s p e c i a l e a r l y

- n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n

. See § 27

- 1

- 710(6), MCA.

9 T h e f a c t i s

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t S B 3 3 7 d i d e x a c t l y t h e o p p o s i t e : I t m a d e i t e a s i e r f

o r

n e g l i g e n t a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r s t o a v

o i d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f

o r t h e i r a c t i o n s

. E v

e n i f t h e d r

u n k

d r i v e r s h o u l d n o t b e a l l o w e d t o s u e t h e b a r

, i t d o e s n o t f

o l l o w t h a t t h e v i c t i m o f t h e d r

u n k

d r i v e r s h o u l d n o t b e a

l l o w e d t o s u e t

h e b a r

. I f t a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r o n e ’ s a c t i o n s i s

w h a t ’ s i m p o r t a n t h e r e

, t h e n t h e b a r s h o u l d b e h e l d a c c o u n t a b l e f o r i t s r o l e i n g i v i n g a

v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d d r i v

e r “ a s h o t f

o r a n i g h t c a p ” o r a f

i f t h o f v o d k a a n d a c a s e o f b e e r f o r

t h e r o a d

.5 1

¶ 9 1 A s o r i g i n a l l y i n t r o d u c e d

, S B 3 3 7 c o n t a i n e d t h e t w o

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s b u t

n o t t h e n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n

. A s S e n a t o r J o e T r o p i l a ( t h e c h i e f s p o n s o r ) e x p l a i n e d t h i s p a r t o f

the bill to the Senate Business and Labor Committee, “it is about timeliness in making

your claim against someone so that recollections are reasonably intact and witnesses are

still available.” He used Mortensen as an example of a defendant who was supposedly

“handi capped” in presenting a defense because witnesses were long gone and memories

had eroded. He argued that the two

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m

i t a t i o n s “ g i v

e s p l e n t y o f t i m e t o

p l a i n t i f f s t o d e t e r m

i n e

. . . t h e y h a v e b e e n i n j u r e d a n d t o f i n d o u t w

h e r e t h e p e r s o n

cau sing the accident was drinking.” In his concluding remarks, he stated that SB 337 is

“a protection bill” for those in the business of dispensing alcoholic beverages.

¶ 9 2 M a r k S t a p l e s f

r o m t h e M o n t a

n a T a v e r n A s s o c i a t i o n p r o v

i d e d s i m i l a r i n s i g

h t s i n t o

t h e p u r p o s e o f S B 3 3 7

. H e a s s e r t e d t h a t d r a m

- shop cases “routinely” are filed “within

days of the end of the statute of limitations” and the bar owner or social host is then “at a

s e r i o u s d i s a d v

a n t a g e ” a n d h a s “ a w

h a l e o f a t i m e t r y i n g t o r e c o n s t r u c t t h e f a c t s

. ” T h u s

,

h e a r g u e d t h a t t h e s h o r t e r

, t w o

- y e a r l i m i t a t i o n s p e r i o d w a s a p p r o p r i a t e

. N o t a b l y

, S t a p l e s

p r e s e n t e d n o e v

i d e n c e w h a t s o e v e r t h a t v i c t i m s o f n e g

l i g e n t a l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r s “ r o u t i n e l y ”

w a i t u n t i l t

h e l a s t m i n u t e t o s p r i n g t h e i r c l a i m s o n u n s u s p e c t i n g d e f e n d a n t s

. M o r e o v

e r

,

w h i l e C u s e n b a r y was cited as an example of this practice, the fact is that Mortensen had

n o d i f f i c u l t y “ r e c o n s t r

u c t i n g t h e f

a c t s ” o f w

h y h e a n d h i s b a r t e n d e r s c o n t i n u e d t o s e r v e a

v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d W e l l s

, a s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e

. I n a n y e v e n t

, S t a p l e s c l a r i f

i e d t h a t h e w a s

not asking for an early

- n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n

, b u t t h a t “ i f y o u w a n t t o l e a v e [ t h e s t a t

u t e o f5 2

limitations] at three years, then put a 180

- day notice provision in there” requiring the

plaintiff to give notice, within 180 days o f the incident, of her intent to sue.

¶ 9 3 Senator Mike Sprague agreed that “[t]he sooner the better for evidence purposes.”

H e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t “ a

l l I ’ m c o n c e r n e d w i t h h e r e i s s a v i n g t h e e v i d e n c e

. ” S e n a t o r K e l l y

G e b h a r d t t h e

n s u g g e s t e d t h a t a c l a

u s e r e q u i r i n g n o t i c e w i t h i n 1 8 0 d a y s b e a d d e d

. S B 3 3 7

w a s t h e r e a f

t e r a m e n d e d t o i n c l u d e t h i s c l a u s e

, a

n d i t w a s t r a n s m

i t t e d t o t h e H o u s e

c o n t a i n i n g b o t

h t h e t w o

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s a n d t

h e 1 8 0

- day notice provision.

¶ 9 4 In the House Business and Labor Committee hea ring, Senator Tropila argued that

the two

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s “ g i v

e s p l a i n t i f

f s p l e n t y o f t i m e t o s u e

, b u t i t i s n ’ t a s

l o n g a t i m e t h a t t h o s e b e i n g s u e d a r e h a n d i c a p p e d i n t h e i r a b i l i t i e s t o d e f e n d t h e m s e l v

e s

b e c a u s e o f m

i s s i n g w i t n e s s e s a n d e r o d e d memories.” He further argued that alcohol

purveyors should be notified early on that they are going to be sued “so that they may

preserve the evidence and testimony from any and all witnesses before they disappear.”

¶ 9 5 Mark Staples, in turn, advised the com m i t t e e t h a

t u n d e r e x i s t i n g c a s e l a w

, i f “ y o u

o r I i n o u r h o m e s o r b a c k y a r d s

, o r a s e r v e r i n a l o u n g e

, s e r v e s a p e r s o n w

h o i s t i p s y

, . . .

anything after that, no matter how unforeseen and how bizarre, falls back on the server as

f a r a s l i a b i l i t y g

o e s

. ” O b v

i o u s l y

, t h i s a l a r m

i s t p r o p o s i t i o n i s a c o m

p l e t e m i s s t a t e m e n t o f

o u r h o l d i n g i n C

u s e n b a r y

. 1 0 T h e r e a f

t e r

, S t a p l e s a g

a i n o f f e r e d t h e u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d v i e w

1 0 W e d i d n o t h o l d t

h a t a p u r v

e y o r o f a l c o h o l i s l i a b l e f o r a l l d r u n k e n c o n d u c t

, “ n o

m a t t e r h o w u

n f o r e s e e n a n d h o w b i z a r r e

. ” R a t h e r

, w e h e l d o n t h e s p e c i f i c f a c t s p r e s e n t e d

t h a t r e a s o n a b l e m

i n d s c o u l d r e a c h b u

t o n e c o n c l u s i o n : t h a t W e l l s ’ c o n d u c t o f d r i v

i n g a

v e h i c l e w h i l e i n t o x i c a t e d t h r o u g

h t h e w a l l o f T o w

n T a v e r n w a s a f

o r e s e e a b l e i n t e r v

e n i n g

c a u s e t h a t d i d n o t s u p e r s e d e o r b r e a k t h e c h a i n o f c a u s a t i o n b e t w e e n M o r t e n s e n ’ s o r i g i n a l

n e g l i g e n c e a n d C u s e n b a r y ’ s i n j u r y

. C u s e n b a r y

, ¶ 3 9

. I

t m a y b e a r g

u e d t h a t t h e5 3

t h a t “ t h e s e s u i t s a r e f

i l e d o n t h e l a s t d a y o f t h r e e y e a r s

, y o u r s e r v e r s a r e g o n e

, y o u r

w i t n e s s e s a r e g

o n e

, a n y b o d y t h a t c o u l d p o s s i b l y e x o n e r a t e y o u o r l e n d y o u t e s t i m o n y i s

gone, and meanwhile they have spent three years preparing their side of the case.” He

concluded that “all we ask is that [the statute of limitations] be reduced to two years” and

“that they have to give [the defendant] notice” within six months of an intent to sue.

¶ 9 6 Al Smith of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association was the lone voice of

opposition to SB 337. He pointed out that “we have a severe problem with alcohol abuse

in this state,” and he argued that those in the business of serving alcoholic beverages have

a “ h e i g h t e n e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ” i n t h i s r e g a r d

. H e a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

, M C A

,

w a s a l r e a d y v

e r y l i m i t e d i n t h a t a t a v

e r n i s l i a b l e o n l y i f i t s e r v e d a n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e

t o a p e r s o n w

h o t h e s e r v e r k n e w o r s h o u l d h a v

e k n o w n w a s u n d e r a g

e

, t o a p e r s o n w

h o

w a s v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d

, o r t o a p e r s o n w h o t h e s e r v

e r c o e r c e d o r t r i c k e d i n t o d r i n k i n g t h e

b e v e r a g e

. W i t h r e g

a r d t o t h e p r o p o s a l t o g

i v e t h e t a v

e r n i n d u s t r y a s p e c i a l s t a t u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n s

, S m

i t h a r g u e d :

I u n d e r s t a n d t

h e r e a s o n s t

h a t h a v e b e e n g i v e n a b o u

t w a n t i n g t o s h o r t e

n u p

t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m

i t a t i o n s t o t w o y e a r s

. W e l l

, i n M o n t a n a w e h a v

e a t h r e e

y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m

i t a t i o n s f o r c i v i l a c t i o n s

. E v

e r y b o d y e l s e t h a

t i s i n v o l v e d

i n c i v i l a c t i o n s i n M o n t a n a h a s a t h r e e

- y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s

. A

n d t h e y

a l l h a v e t h e s a m e p r o b l e m s w i t h t h e s a m e t h i n g w e t a l k e d a b o u t h e r e

, a s f a r

a s l o c a t i n g w i t n e s s e s

, t h e y a r e h a r d t o g e t a h o l d o f

, d i f f i c u l t t o g e t t h e

p r o o f t h a t t

h e y w a n t

, t h a t t y

p e o f t h i n g

. B u t i t i s t h e s a m e f o r e v e r y b o d y

a c r o s s t h e b o a r

d f o r c i v i l a c t i o n s i n M o n

t a n a

. T h e r e i s n o r e a s o n t o m a k e this a special case.

Smith made similar points about the 180

- day notice provision. He also noted that some

f o r e s e e a b i l i t y i s s u e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s u b m

i t t e d t o t h e j u r y a n d n o t d e c i d e d a s a m a t t e r o f

l a w

. See Cusenbary

, ¶ 6 8 ( L e a p h a r t & G r a y

, J J

. , d i s s e n t i n g )

. B u t C u s e n b a r y d o e s n o t

s t a n d f o r t h e t o t a l l y e x a g g e r a t e d r

u l e o f f o r e s e e a b i l i t y a r t i c u l a t e d b y S t a p l e s

.5 4

tavern owne rs are on notice at the time the accident occurs that they need to interview

witnesses and gather evidence

— a s M o r t e n s e n w a s w h e n a v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d W e l l s

d r o v e t h r o u g h t h e t a v e r n w a l l a n d i n

j u r e d C u s e n b a r y

, a n d a s S t u m b l e I n n w a s w

h e n a

v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d W a r r e n p e e l e d o u t o f i t s p a r k i n g l o t a n d c r a s h e d i n t o C a r y R o h l f s 1 5 7

feet later. Thus, a 180

- day notice requirement would not need to apply in every case.

¶ 9 7 S m i t h ’ s a r g

u m e n t s w e n t u n r e f

u t e d

. I n d e e d

, a b s o l u

t e l y n o e v

i d e n c e w a s p r e s e n t e d

t h a t p u r v e y o r s o f a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s a r e u n i q u e o r a c l a s s o f t h e i r o w n

, r e l a t i v e t o o t h e r

t o r t d e f e n d a n t s

, w h e n i t c o m e s t o l o c a

t i n g w i t n e s s e s

, g

a t h e r i n g e v i d e n c e

, a n d p r e p a r i n g a

d e f e n s e

. I n f a c t

, n o o n e e v

e n a r g u e d t h a t t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y i s s p e c i a l i n t h i s r e g a r d

, a n d

a n y s u c h a r g

u m e n t w o u l d h a v

e b e e n l u d i c r o u s i n a n y e v e n t

. O b v i o u s l y

, t a v

e r n o w n e r s

a r e n o t t h e o n l y d e f

e n d a n t s w h o m i g h t n o t b e a w a r e t h a

t a n a c c i d e

n t h a s o c c u r r e d a n d

t h a t t h e y n e e d t o p r e p a r e a d e f e n s e

. A s n o t e d e a r l i e r

, p r o d u c t m a n u f a c t u r e r s e a s i l y f

a l l

i n t o t h i s c a t e g o r y

. S o d o m a n y s l i p

- a n d

- fall defendants. Likewise, cases arising out of

latent injuries are part of this class. But the point here is that no evidence whatsoever was

produced to substantiate the tavern industry’s claim that it wa s somehow a class of its

own when it comes to preparing a defense. Indeed, the supposed “evidence” offered by

the bill’s proponents was false, misrepresented, or unsubstantiated.

¶ 9 8 N e v

e r t h e l e s s

, t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e g a v e t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y w

h a t i t w a n t e d

, a

n d t h e n

s o m e : a s h o r t e r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s a n d

an early

- notice provision. No other negligence

defendants enjoy such special privileges. The Court states that the Legislature was acting

“in its wisdom” (Opinion, ¶ 17)

— a l t h o u g h

, a s j u s t n o t e d

, t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d t o

l a w m a k e r s w a s a n e c d o t a

l

, m i s l e a d i n g

, a n d u n

t r u e

. T h e C o u r

t a l s o s t a t e s t

h a t w e h a v

e n o5 5

license to “psychoanalyze” the legislators (Opinion, ¶ 20)

— although no psychoanalysis

is involved in looking at the public record and pointing out, as a statement of irrefutable

f a c t

, t h a t t h e r e w a s n o e v

i d e n c e s u p p o r t i n g t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y ’ s c l a i m t h a t i t w a s a c l a s s

o f i t s o w n

. T h e c h a n g

e s e f f e c t e d b y S B 3 3 7 w e r e s i m p l y a n o t h e r i n c r e m e n t a l

, t h o u g h

g i a n t s t e p b a c k

w a r d t o w a r d t h e “ N e a n d e r t h a l a p p r o a c h ” o f y e s t e r y e a r

, N

e h r i n g , 219

Mont. at 471, 712 P.2d at 1335, a “back

- eddy running counter to the mainstream of

m o d e r n t o r

t d o c t r i n e

, ” D e e

d s

, 3 0 6 F

. S u p p

. a

t 3 5 9 ( i n t e r n a l q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m

i t t e d )

.

V. CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS

¶ 9 9 At the outset of this analysis, i t is necessary to address two points regarding the

Court’s approach. First, I disagree with the Court’s statement that a person challenging

the constitutionality of a statute bears the burden of proving it unconstitutional “beyond a

reasonable doubt.” Op inion, ¶ 7. The constitutionality of a statute is a question of law

which we review for correctness, as the Court acknowledges. Opinion, ¶ 7. It is

“ i ncongruous” and “absurd” to apply the “ b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t ” s t a n d a r

d o f p r o o f

( t y p i c a l l y r e s e r v

e d f o r f a c t u a l i s s u e s ) t o a p u r e l y l e g a l q u e s t i o n

. See Oberson v. U.S.

Dept. of Agriculture

, 2 0 0 7 M T 2 9 3

, ¶ 3 4

, 3 3 9 M o n t

. 5 1 9

, 1 7 1 P

. 3 d 7 1 5 ( L e a p h a r t

,

N e l s o n

, & C o t t e r

, J J

. , c o n c u r r i n g )

. A s s u g g e s t e d b y J

u s t i c e L e a p h a r t

, I w o u l d a p p l y t h e

“plain showing of u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y ” b u r d e

n i n c h a l l e n g

e s r e v i e w e d f

o r r a t i o n a l b a s i s

a n d w o u l d h o l d t h e S t a t e t o i t s b u r d e n w h e r e t h e g

o v e r n m e n t m

u s t d e m o n s t r a t e t h a

t t h e

c h a l l e n g e d s t a t u t e w i t h s t a

n d s m i d d l e

- t i e r o r s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y a n a l y s i s

. Oberson , ¶ 37.

¶ 1 0 0 Second, I am

unsure what to make of the Court’s nebulous statement in ¶ 18 that it

is not our function to “second

- g u e s s ” t h e L e g i s l a t u r e

. S i n c e t h i s s t a t e m e n t f o l l o w s t h e5 6

Court’s peculiar fawning in ¶ 1 7 o v e r t h e L e g

i s l a t u r e ’ s “ w i s d o m ” i n e n a c t i n g t h e 1 8 0

- d a y

n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n

, t h e C o u r t c o u l d b e s a y i n g t h a t i t i s n o t o u r f u n c t i o n t o e x a m

i n e t h e

validity of treating dram

- shop plaintiffs and defendants as a special class

— a proposition

with which I do not agree. In any event, whatever the Court’s meaning, I note that it also

is not our function to “rubber

- stamp” the Legislature

— a s t h e C o u r t e f f e c t i v e l y d o e s h e r e

.

R a t h e r

, i t i s o u r f

u n c t i o n t o p r o t e c t a n d u p h o l d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g

h t s

. S e e e

. g

. O b e r

s o n ;

S n e t s i n g e r v

. M o n t a n a U n i v e r s i t y S y s t e m

, 2 0 0 4 M T 3 9 0

, 3 2 5 M o n t

. 1 4 8

, 1 0 4 P

. 3 d 4 4 5 ;

W a l k e r v

. S t a t e

, 2 0 0 3 M T 1 3 4

, 3 1 6 M o n t

. 1 0 3

, 6 8 P

. 3 d 8 7 2 ; A r m s t r o n g v

. S t a t e

, 1 9 9 9

M T 2 6 1

, 2 9 6 M o n t

. 3 6 1

, 9 8 9 P

. 2 d 3 6 4 ; G r y c z a n v

. S t a t e

, 2 8 3 M o n t

. 4 3 3

, 9 4 2 P

. 2 d 1 1 2

( 1 9 9 7 ) ; D a v i s v

. U

n i o n P a c i f i c R

. R

. C o

. , 2 8 2 M o n t

. 2 3 3

, 9 3 7 P

. 2 d 2 7 ( 1 9 9 7 ) ; S t a t e v

.

S i e g a l , 281 Mont. 250, 934 P.2d 176 (1997).

¶ 1 0 1 H e r e

, t h e R

o h l f s c i t e A r t i c l e V

, S e c t i o n 1 2 o f M o n t a n a ’ s 1 9 7 2 C o n s t i t

u t i o n i n

a r g u i n g t h a t t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n i s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a

l

. T h i s p r o v i s i o n s t a t e s t h a t

“[t]he legislature shall not pass a special or local act when a general act is, or can be

made, applicable.” Article V, Section 26 of Montana’s 1889 Constitution contained a

substantially similar prohibition.

¶ 1 0 2 A s p e c i a l s t a t u t e i s

o n e w h i c h r e l a t e s t o p a r t i c u l a r p e r s o n s o r t h i n g s o f a c l a s s

, o r o n e m a d e f o r

i n d i v i d u a l c a s e s a n d f

o r l e s s t h a n a c l a s s

, o r o n e w h i c h r e l a t e s a n d a p p l i e s

t o p a r t i c u l a r m e m

b e r s o f a c l a s s

, e i t h e r p a r t i c u l a r i z e d b y t h e e x

p r e s s t e r m s

o f t h e A c t o r s e p a r a t e d b y a n y m e t h o d o f s e l e c t i o n f r o m t h e w

h o l e c l a s s t o

w h i c h t h e l a w m

i g h t

, b u t f o r s u c h l i m

i t a t i o n

, b e a p p l i c a b l e

.

S t a t e e x r e l

. R e d

m a n v

. M

e y e r s

, 6 5 M o n

t

. 1 2 4

, 1 2 7

, 2 1 0 P

. 1 0 6 4

, 1 0 6 5

- 6 6 ( 1 9 2 2 )

( c i t a t i o n s o m

i t t e d ) ; a c c o r

d L o w e r y v

. G a r f i e l d C o u n t y

, 1 2 2 M o n t

. 5 7 1

, 5 8 7

, 2 0 8 P

. 2 d5 7

478, 487 (1949). Unconstitutional cla ss legislation “includes all laws that rest upon some

false or deficient classification, and the vice in such laws is that they do not embrace all

o f t h e c l a s s t o w

h i c h t h e y a r e n a t u r a

l l y r e l a t e d

. ” L e u t h o l

d v

. B r a n d

j o r d , 100 Mont. 96,

105, 47 P.2d 41, 45 (1935). “It is not, therefore, what a law includes, but what it

e x c l u d e s

, t

h a t d e t e r m

i n e s w h e t h e r i t i s s p e c i a l

. ” R e d m a n

, 6 5 M o n

t

. a t 1 2 7

, 2 1 0 P

. a

t

1 0 6 6

. A l a w m a k e s a n i m p r o p e r d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i f i t c o n f e r s p a r t i c u l a r p r i v i l e g

e s o r

i m p o s e s p e c u l i a r d i s a b i l i t i e s u p o n a c l a s s o f p e r s o n s a r b i t r a r i l y s e l e c t e d f

r o m a l a r g

e r

n u m b e r o f p e r s o n s a l l o f w

h o m s t a n d i n t h e s a m e r e l a t i o n t o t h e p r i v i l e g e s c o n f e r r e d o r

t h e d i s a b i l i t i e s i m

p o s e d

. L e u t

h o l d , 100 Mont. at 105, 47 P.2d at 45. Special laws are

objectionab le “for not extending to the whole subject to which their provisions would be

e q u a l l y a p p l i c a b l e

, a n d t h u s p e r m i t t i n g a d i v

e r s i t y o f l a w s r e l a t i n g t o t h e s a m e s u b j e c t

. ”

L e u t h o l d , 100 Mont. at 105

- 06, 47 P.2d at 45 (internal quotation marks omitted).

¶ 1 0 3 I n Re dman

, t

h i s C o u r t s t r

u c k d o w n § 1 0 3 8

, R C M ( 1 9 2 1 )

, a s s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n

.

S e c t i o n 1 0 3 8 s t a t e d t

h a t a l l s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s w

h i c h h a v e b e e n o r m a y b e d i v

i d e d b y t h e

c r e a t i o n o f a n e w c o u n t y u n d e r t h e N e w C o u n t y A c t s a r e j o i n t s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s s u b j e c t t o

t h e l a w s r e l a t i n g t o t h e m a n a g e m e n t a n d c o n

t r o l o f j o i n t s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s

. S e c t i o n 1 0 3 8

o p e r a t e d o n l y u

p o n e x i s t i n g d i s t r i c t s d i v i d e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n o f n e w c o u n t i e s

, a n d o n l y

s u c h n e w c o u

n t i e s a s h a d b e e n o r m

i g h t b e c r e a t e d u n d e r t

h e N e w C o u n

t y A c t s

. I

t

e x c l uded from its operation all existing districts which had been or might be divided by

t h e c r e a t i o n o f n e w c o u n

t i e s b y d i r e c t l e g

i s l a t i v e e n a c t m e n t

. B u

t t h e f a c t t h a t § 1 0 3 8

a p p l i e d o n l y t o s o m e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s d i d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r e n d e r i t i n v a l i d

. R a t h e r, the

q u e s t i o n w a s w

h e t h e r t h e l a w “ o p e r a t e [ d ] e q u a l l y u p o n a l l o f a g

r o u p o f o b

j e c t s w h i c h

,5 8

having regard to the purpose of the legislature, are distinguished by characteristics

s u f f i c i e n t l y m a r k e d a n d i m

p o r t a n t t o m a k e t h e m a c l a s s b y t h e m s e l v e s

. ” R e d m a n

, 6 5

M o n t

. a t 1 2 8

, 2 1 0 P

. a

t 1 0 6 6

. A

p p l y i n g t h i s t e s t

, t h e C o u r t o b s e r v e d t h a t

[ t ] h e r e i s n o t a n y d i f

f e r e n c e i n t h e s i t u a t i o n o r c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f a s c h o o l

d i s t r i c t d i v i d e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n e w c o u n t y u n d e r t h e N e w C o u n t y A c t s

a n d o n e d i v i d e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n e w c o u n t y b y d i r e c t l e g i s l a t i v

e

e n a c t m e n t

. T h e f

i r s t i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e o p e r a t i o n o f s e c t i o n 1 0 3 8

, a n d t h e

l a s t i s e x c l u d e d

, a p p a r e n t l y w i t h o u t a n y r e a s o n

, a n d i n t h e a b s e n c e o f

a n y t h i n g w h i c h d i s t i n g

u i s h e s t h e e x c l u d e d d i s t r i c t s f r o m t h o s e i n c l u d e d

. . . . S e c t i o n 1 0 3 8 i s a s p e c i a l s t a t u t e u n d e r a

l l o f t h e a

u t h o r i t i e s

, a n d t

h e

a t t e m p t e d c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n f o u n d i n i t i s p u r e l y a r

b i t r a r y a n d a r

t i f i c i a l

.

R e d m a n

, 6 5 M o n

t

. a t 1 2 8

- 2 9

, 2 1 0 P

. a t 1 0 6 6

. T h e C o u r t f u r t h e r c o n c l u d e d t h a t a g e n e r a l

l a w c o u l d b e m a d e a p p l i c a b l e : t h e g e n e r a l s t a t u

t e f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f j o i n t s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s

.

T h u s

, t h e C o u r

t h e l d t h a t § 1 0 3 8 w a s v

o i d

. R e d m a n , 65 Mont. at 129

- 30, 210 P. at 1066.

¶ 1 0 4 I n L o w e r y , this Court likewise struck down Chapter 100, Laws of 1943, as spe cial

l e g i s l a t i o n

. U

n d e r § 9 0 2 4

, R C M ( 1 9 3 5 )

, a p a r t y c l a i m i n g a d v

e r s e p o s s e s s i o n m

u s t s h o w

t h a t t h e l a n d h a s b e e n o c c u

p i e d a n d c l a i m e d c o n t i n

u o u s l y f o r a p e r i o d o f t e n y e a r s a n d

t h a t t h e p a r t y o r h e r p r e d e c e s s o r s

, d u r i n g s u c h p e r i o d

, h a v e p a i d a l l t a x e s l e v

i e d u p o n s a i d

l a n d

. F o r t h o s e c l a i m

i n g r i g h t u n d e r a t a x d e e d

, h o w e v e r

, C h a p t e r 1 0 0 r e d u c e d t h e p e r i o d

o f p o s s e s s i o n b y e i g

h t y e a r s a n d e l i m

i n a t e d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t t

h a t t a x e s b e p a i d d u r i n g t h e

p e r i o d o f a d v

e r s e p o s s e s s i o n

. A f

t e r r e c i t i n g t h e r

u l e s f o r d e t e r m i n i n g w

h e t h e r a s t a t u t e i s

s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n

, t

h e C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a

t

C h a p t e r 1 0 0

, L a w s o f 1 9 4 3

, i s c l e a r l y a s p e c i a l l a w

. I t a p p l i e s t o c e r

t a i n

p e r s o n s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s a n d l e a v e s a l l o t h e r s i n t

h e s a m e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

s u b j e c t t o t h e p r

o v i s i o n s o f t h e g

e n e r a l s t a t u t e o n a d v

e r s e p o s s e s s i o n

. T h e

r i g h t o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e t o s h o r t e n t h e S t a t u t e o f L i m

i t a t i o n s f o r t h e p e r i o d o f

a d v e r s e p o s s e s s i o n i s n o t q u e s t i o n e d b u t i t m

u s t a p p l y t o a l l c l a s s e s

c l a i m i n g a d v

e r s e l y a n d t

h e s a m e r e q u i r e m e n t s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f a d v e r s e5 9

p o s s e s s i o n m

u s t b e r e q u i r e d o f a l l p e r s o n s a n d c l a s s e s

.

L o w e r y , 122 Mont. at 588, 208 P.2d at 487.

¶ 1 0 5 T h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n i s u n c o n s t i t u

t i o n a l f o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n s t h e R e d m a n

a n d L o w e r y statutes were. First, as to the classification at issue here, Stumble Inn argues

that we should define the class narrowly as just “those persons that might be impacted by

a l c o h o l s e r v

i c e c l a i m s

. ” E s s e n t i a l l y

, S t u m b l e I n n w o u l d d e f

i n e t h e c l a s s a s d r a m

- s h o p

p l a i n t i f f s a n d d e f e n d a n t s

. S t

u m b l e I n n t h e n a r g u e s t h a t b e c a u s e a l l s u c h p l a i n t i f f s a r e

e q u a l l y d i s a d v

a n t a g e d b y t h e n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n

, a n d b e c a u s e a l l s u c h d e f e n d a n t s a r e

e q u a l l y b e n e f

i t e d b y i t

, t h e p r o v i s i o n i s n o t s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n

. T h i s a p p r o a c h

, h o w e v e r

,

i s p u r e s o p h i s t r y

. I f t h e r e l e v a n t c l a s s f

o r s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n a n a l y s i s w e r e s i m p l y t h e

c l a s s e n c o m

p a s s e d b y t h e l e g i s l a t i o n

, t h e n a s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n c h a l l e n g

e w o u l d n e v

e r

s u c c e e d

. Cf. Yeoman v. Commonwealth

, 9 8 3 S

. W

. 2 d 4 5 9

, 4 6 8 ( K y

. 1 9 9 8 ) ( “ T h i s C o u r

t

w i l l n o t p e r m

i t a s t a t u t e t o s u r v i v

e [ a c h a l l e n g

e t h a t i t i s s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n ] b y s i m

p l y

d e f i n i n g a c l a s s i n a n a r r o w f a s h i o n w h i c h w i l l y i e l d

, i p s o f

a c t o

, a s e l f

- sustaining

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

. ” )

. N o t a b l y

, w e r e j e c t e d t h i s s a m e a p p r o a c h i n O b e r s o n v

. U

. S

. D e p t

. o f

A g r i c u l t u r e , 2007 MT 293 , 339 Mont. 519, 171 P.3d 715, where the Forest Service

argued that the “legislature here treated all snowmobilers identically, and thus created no

d i s t i n c t i o n o r c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n t h a t w a r r a n t s e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n r e v i e w

. ” Oberson

, ¶ 1 8

. W e

n o t e d t h a t t h e g e n e r a l c l a s s i s d e f

i n e d a s t h o s e w

h o a r e s i m

i l a r l y s i t u a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o

t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l p u r

p o s e

. See Oberson , ¶ 19; cf. Leuthold

, 1 0 0 M o n t

. a t 1 0 5

, 4 7 P

. 2 d a t

4 5 ( d e f i n i n g t h e g

e n e r a l c l a s s a s a l l p e r s o n s w h o s t a n d i n t h e s a m e r e l a t i o n t o t h e

p r i v i l e g e s c o n f e r r e d o r t h e d i s a b i l i t i e s i m p o s e d b y t h e c h a l l e n g

e d l a w )

. T h e s t a t u t e a t6 0

i s s u e i n O b e r

s o n s o u g h t t o p r e v

e n t f r i v o l o u s l a w s u i t s b y i m m

u n i z i n g s n o w m o b i l e a r e a

o p e r a t o r s f

r o m t h e i n h e r e n t r i s k s o f t h e s p o r t o v e r w h i c h t h e o p e r a t o r h a d n o c o n t r o l

.

Y e t

, a l l o p e r a

t o r s w h o p r o v i d e a v e n u e f o r a n i n h e r e n t l y d a n g

e r o u s s p o r t a r e s i m i l a r l y

s i t u a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e m i s c h i e f t h e s t a t u t e p r o p o s e d t o r e m e d y

. T h u s

, w e h e l d t h a t

t h e s n o w m o b i l e l i a b i l i t y s t a t u t e c l a s s i f i e d s n o w m o b i l e a r e a o p e r a t o r s a n d s n o w m o b i l e r s

a n d t r e a t e d t

h e m d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m o t h e r s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d g r o u p s

. Oberson , ¶ 20.

¶ 1 0 6 H e r e

, t h e p u r

p o s e o f t h e l a w i s t o a l e r t a n o t h e r w i s e u n a w a r e d r a m

- s h o p d e f e n d a n t

t h a t a n a c c i d e n

t f o r w h i c h h e m a y b e a r s o m e l i a b i l i t y h a s o c c u r r e d w i t h i n t h e p r e v i o u s s i x

m o n t h s a n d t

h a t t h e v i c t i m i n t e n d s t o s u e

. T h a t w a y

, t h e d e f e n d a n t k n o w s t o i n t e r v

i e w

w i t n e s s e s b e f

o r e t h e y d i s a p p e a r o r t h e i r m e m o r i e s d e g

r a d e

, t o g

a t h e r a n d p r e s e r v

e

e v i d e n c e

, a n d t o p r e

p a r e a d e f

e n s e

. G i v

e n t h i s p u r

p o s e

, I a g r e e w i t h t h e C o u r t ’ s

o b s e r v a t i o n t h a t t

h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n d i s t i n g

u i s h e s d e f

e n d a n t s d i r e c t l y i n v

o l v e d

in the incident causing damage from defendants who are not present and may not be

aware that an incident occurred until being served with a complaint. Opinion, ¶ 18.

¶ 1 0 7 T he question, then, is whether the 180

- day notice provision “embrace[s] all of the

c l a s s t o w

h i c h [ i t i s ] n a t

u r a l l y r e l a t e d ” o r w

h e t h e r i t “ c o n f

e r s p a r t i c u l a r p r i v

i l e g e s o r

i m p o s e s p e c u l i a r d i s a b i l i t i e s u p o n a c l a s s o f p e r s o n s a r b i t r a r i l y s e l e c t e d f

r o m a l a r g

e r

number of persons all of whom stand in the same relation to the privileges conferred or

t h e d i s a b i l i t i e s i m

p o s e d

. ” L e u t h o l d

, 1 0 0 M o n

t

. a t 1 0 5

, 4 7 P

. 2 d a t 4 5

. A s n o t e d

, a v a r i e t y

o f t o r t d e f

e n d a n t s a r e s i m

i l a r l y s i t u a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e m i s c h i e f t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e

provision proposes to remedy. Product manufacturers and slip

- and

- fall defendants, as

w e l l a s s n o w m o b i l e a r e a o p e r a t o r s

, a r e b u t t h r e e e x a m

p l e s o f d e f

e n d a n t s w

h o a r e “ n o t6 1

present and may not be aware that an incident occurred until being served with a

c o m p l a i n t ” ( O p i n i o n

, ¶ 1 8 )

. Y e t

, t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n d o e s n o t e m

b r a c e t h e s e

d e f e n d a n t s

. T h e s e d e f

e n d a n t s

, r a t h e r

, a r e s u b

j e c t t o t h e g

e n e r a l l y a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n s a n d d o n o t e n j o y t h e b e n e f

i t o f a 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n

. C o n v

e r s e l y

, t h e

p l a i n t i f f s i n t h o s e c a s e s a r e n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e a d d e d n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t

. I t m u s t a l s o b e

reiterated here that no evidence was presented to the Legislature substantiating the tavern

industry’s claim that alcohol purveyors are in a class of their own vis

- à

- v i s t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s

i n d e f e n d i n g a g

a i n s t a c l a i m a r i s i n g o u t o f a n i n c i d e n t a t w h i c h t h e d e f

e n d a n t w a s n o t

present. 1 1

¶ 1 0 8 I n s u m

, t h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n a p p l i e s t o c e r t a i n p e r s o n s a n d e n t i t i e s a n d

l e a v e s a l l o t h e r s i n t h e s a m e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v

i s i o n s o f t h e g

e n e r a l s t a t u t e

o f l i m i t a t i o n s

. C

f

. L o w e r y , 122 Mont. at 588, 208 P.2d at 487. Indeed, Senator Tropila

testified that SB 3 3 7 i s “ a p r o t e c t i o n b i l l ” f o r t h o s e i n t h e b u s i n e s s o f d i s p e n s i n g

a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

. T h e n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n c l a s s i f

i e s d r a m

- s h o p d e f

e n d a n t s a n d c o n f

e r s

o n t h e m a s p e c i a l p r i v

i l e g e n o t e

n j o y e d b y s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d d e f e n d a n t s

. C o n v

e r s e l y

, i t

i m p o s e s a p e c u l i a r d i s a b i l i t y o n a c l a s s o f p e r s o n s ( d r a m

- s h o p p l a i n t i f f s ) a r b i t r a r i l y

s e l e c t e d f r o m a l a r g

e r g r o u p o f s i m

i l a r l y s i t u a t e d p e r s o n s ( p l a i n t i f f s i n j u r e d b y a b s e n t

d e f e n d a n t s w

h o a r e u n a w a r e o f t h e i n c i d e n t )

. Y e t

, t

h e r e i s n o e v

i d e n c e t h a t t h e t h r e e

- year

statute of limitations generally applicable to all such absent defendants cannot be mad e

1 1 I n t h i s r e g a r d

, t h e R o h l f s p o i n t o u

t t h a t c o n t r a r y t o S t u m

b l e I n n ’ s f l a g r a n t

m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i v e r e c o r d

, o n l y o n e p r

o p o n e n t o f S B 3 3 7 ( M o r t e

n s e n )

c l a i m e d t o h a v

e b e e n p r e

j u d i c e d b y t

h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f w i t n e s s e s

, a n d t h a t c l a i m w a s a n

i n a c c u r a t e a n d m

i s l e a d i n g e x

p l a n a t i o n o f w

h y h i s d e f e n s e i n C u s e n b a r y f a i l e d

.6 2

a p p l i c a b l e t o d r a m

- s h o p d e f e n d a n t s

. I c o n s e q u e

n t l y w o u l d h o l d t h a

t t h e n o t i c e p r

o v i s i o n

i s u n c o n s t i t u

t i o n a l s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n i n v i o l a t i o n o f A

r t i c l e V

, S e c t i o n 1 2

.

¶ 1 0 9 In reaching the opposite conclusion, the Court’s analysis founders due largely to

the C o u r t ’ s c o n f

u s i o n a b o u

t t h e c l a s s a t i s s u e h e r e

. I

n i t i a l l y

, t h e C o u r

t c o r r e c t l y i d e n t i f

i e s

t h e c l a s s a s t o r t p l a i n t i f

f s b r i n g i n g c l a i m s a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t s w

h o w e r e n o t p r e s e n t a

t t h e

injury

- causing incident and, thus, may not be aware that the incident oc curred until being

served with a complaint. Opinion, ¶ 18. But then the Court defines the class narrowly as

t o r t p l a i n t i f

f s s e e k i n g r e d r e s s u n d e r t h e D r a m S h o p A c t

. O p i n i o n

, ¶ 1 9

. B a s e d o n t h i s

l a t t e r c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n

, t h e C o u r

t r e a s o n s t h a t b e c a

u s e a l l d r a m

- shop plaintiffs are

“uniformly and equally” disadvantaged by the notice provision, the provision is not

special legislation. Opinion, ¶ 19. This approach is incorrect for two reasons.

¶ 1 1 0 First, the Court errs by defining the class in such a fashion as to yield a self

sustaining classification

— i.e., by defining the class as those who are burdened by the

challenged law and then upholding the law because it discriminates against all of these

people “uniformly and equally.” Our caselaw makes clear that the relevant class consists

of all persons who are similarly situated with respect to the law’s purpose

— a point the

Court seems to recognize in ¶ 1 8 b u t t h e n i n e x p l i c a b l y i g

n o r e s i n ¶ 1 9

. S e e O b e r s o n

,

¶ 1 9 ; L e u t h o l

d

, 1 0 0 M o n t

. a

t 1 0 5

, 4 7 P

. 2 d a

t 4 5

. T h e r e l e v

a n t c l a s s h e r e

, t h e r e f

o r e

, i s n o t

d r a m

- s h o p p l a i n

t i f f s ; i t i s a l l t o r t p l a i n t i f

f s i n j u r e d b y a n a b s e n

t d e f e n d a n t w h o i s u n a w a r e

o f t h e i n j u r y

- c a u s i n g i n c i d e n t

. T h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n a r b i t r a r i l y s i n g

l e s o u t d r a m

- s h o p

p l a i n t i f f s a n d t r e a t s t h e m d i f

f e r e n t l y f r o m t h e s e s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d t o r t p l a i n t i f f s

.6 3

¶ 1 1 1 Second, the Court’s approach is based on the fundamentally mistaken proposition

that a cause of action against a purveyor of alcoholic beverages is “a statutory claim” or

“utilize[s] a statutory scheme.” Opi nion, ¶ 19. As explained above, dram

- shop liability

developed under the common law. Thus, a plaintiff does not “seek[ ] redress under the

D r a m S h o p A c t

. ” O p i n i o n

, ¶ 1 9

. R a t h e r

, a d r a m

- s h o p c l a i m i s s i m p l y a c o m m o n l a w

n e g l i g e n c e a c t i o n a g

a i n s t a p u r v

e y o r o f a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

. N o t a b l y

, t h e a u t h o r o f

t o d a y ’ s O p i n i o n r e c o g

n i z e d t h i s f

a c t j u s t l a s t y e a r i n h i s O p i n i o n f o r t h e C o u r

t i n F i l i p v

.

J o r d a n

, 2 0 0 8 M T 2 3 4

, 3 4 4 M o n t

. 4 0 2

, 1 8 8 P

. 3 d 1 0 3 9

, w h e r e h e w r o t e :

T h e L e g i s l a t u r e h a s p l e n a r y p o w e r t o a l t e r c o m m o n l a w c a u s e s o f a c t i o n

, b u t t h i s i s n o t t h e s a m e a s s a y i n g t h a t w h e n t h e L e g i s l a t u r e d o e s s o t h e

r e s u l t i n g c a u s e o f a c t i o n i s c r e a t e d b y s t a t u t e

. . . . [ T ] h e t e s t f

o r w h e t h e r a

l i a b i l i t y i s c r e a t e d b y s t a t u t e i s w h e t h e r l i a b i l i t y w o u l d e x i s t a b s e n t t h e statute in question. In this instance, as noted above, Montana recognized a

cause of action based on negligently providing alcohol to an intoxicated

p e r s o n p r i o r t o t h e p a s s a g e o f § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

, M C A ( 1 9 9 9 )

. S e e N e h r i n g , 219

Mont. 462, 712 P.2d 1329 .

. . . Thus, § 27

- 1

- 710, MCA (1999), did not

“establish[ ] a n e w r

u l e o f p r i v

a t e r i g h t u n k n o w n t o t h e c o m

m o n l a w

. ”

Filip

, ¶ ¶ 1 2

- 1 3 ( s e c o n d b r a c k e t s i n Filip

, p a r a g r a p h b r e a k o m i t t e d )

. I

n d e e d

, § 2 7

- 1

- 7 1 0

,

M C A

, s i m

p l y p l a c e d l i m i t s ( r e g a r d i n g c a u s a t i o n

, p r o o f

, and recoverable damages) on an

e x i s t i n g c o m m o n l a w c a u s e o f a c t i o n

. T h u s

, t h e C o u r t ’ s p r e m i s e i n ¶ 1 9 t h a

t d r a m

- s h o p

p l a i n t i f f s a r e s o m e h o w a c l a s s o f t h e i r o w n b e c a u s e t h e y a r e u t i l i z i n g a s t a t u t o r y s c h e m e

is incorrect, and the entire foundation of the C ourt’s special legislation analysis

crumbles

— a s i t s h o u l d

. T h e 1 8 0

- d a y n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n i s s p e c i a l l e g

i s l a t i o n

.

VI. THE COURT’S EQUAL PROTECTION ANALYSIS

¶ 1 1 2 Given my conclusion that § 27

- 1

- 710(6), MCA, is special legislation, I would not

reach the Rohlfs’ a l t e r n a t i v e a r g u m e n t t h a t t h i s p r o v

i s i o n v i o l a t e s A

r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 4 ’ s6 4

Equal Protection Clause. But since the Court has addressed the equal protection issue, I

note two points about the Court’s analysis. F i r s t

, I d o n o t a g r e e w i t h t h e C o u r t ’ s r e l i a n c e

o n Meech v. Hillhaven West, Inc.

, 2 3 8 M o n t

. 2 1

, 7 7 6 P

. 2 d 4 8 8 ( 1 9 8 9 )

. T h e C o u r t ’ s

c i t a t i o n s t o M

e e c h are inapt for purposes of resolving the issues presented in this case.

S e c o n d

, I d i s a g r e e w i t h t h e C o u r t ’ s s t a t e m e n t s i n ¶ 2 9 t h a t t h e n o t i c e p r o v i s i o n d o e s n o t

i n v o l v e a f u n d a m e n t a l r i g

h t a n d t h a t s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y i s n o t r e q u i r e d

. A s t h e C o u r t

a c k n o w l e d g e s i n ¶ ¶ 2 7 a n d 2 9

, t

h e n o t i c e p r o v

i s i o n h i n d e r s t h e r i g

h t o f a c c e s s t o t h e

c o u r t s

. T h a t r i g

h t i s g u a r a n t e e d b y A

r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 1 6

, w

h i c h s t a t e s t h a

t “[c]ourts of

justice shall be open to every person, and speedy remedy afforded for every injury of

person, property, or character.” This Court has held repeatedly that the rights enumerated

i n A r t i c l e I I o f M o n t a

n a ’ s C o n s t i t

u t i o n ( t h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f R i g

h t s ) a r e f

u n d a m e n t a l

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

. Kortum

- Managhan v. Herbergers NBGL

, 2 0 0 9 M T 7 9

, ¶ 2 5

, 3 4 9

M o n t

. 4 7 5

, 2 0 4 P

. 3 d 6 9 3 ( c i t i n g c a s e s ) ; W a d s w o r t h v

. S t a t e

, 2 7 5 M o n

t

. 2 8 7

, 2 9 9

, 9 1 1

P

. 2 d 1 1 6 5

, 1 1 7 2 ( 1 9 9 6 )

. H e n c e

, a s A r t i c l e I I

, S e c t i o n 1 6 i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e D e c l a r a t i o n

o f R i g h t s

, i t n e c e s s a r i l y f o l l o w s t h a t i t i s a f

u n d a m e n t a l r i g

h t t o w h i c h s t r i c t s c r

u t i n y

a p p l i e s

. See Snetsinger v. Montana University System , 2004 MT 390, ¶ 17, 325 Mont.

148, 104 P.3d 445 (“Strict scrutiny applies if a .

. . fundamen t a l r i g h t i s a f f e c t e d

. ” )

. A

n d

f o r t h e s e r e a s o n s

, I w o u l d o v e r r u l e t h e s t a

t e m e n t s i n L i n d e

r v

. S m i t h , 193 Mont. 20,

25

- 26, 629 P.2d 1187, 1190 (1981), on which the Court relies in ¶ 29, that “access to the

courts is not an independent fundamental right” an d “access may be hindered if there

e x i s t s a r a t i o n a l b a s i s f

o r d o i n g s o

. ”

V I I

. C O N C L U S I O N6 5

¶ 1 1 3 S t u m

b l e I n n s e r v e d a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s t o a v

i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d p a t r

o n w h o t h e n

g o t i n t o h i s c a r a n d

, a q u i c k 1 5 7 f e e t o f b u r n t r

u b b e r l a t e r

, s m a s h e d i n t o C a r y R o h l f s

,

c a u s i n g C a r y s e r i o u s i n

j u r i e s

. S t u m

b l e I n n k n e w a b o u t t

h e a c c i d e n

t ; S t u m b l e I n n k n e w

t h a t i t s p a t r

o n w a s i n v

o l v e d ; S t u m b l e I n n k n e w ( o r s h o u l d h a v

e k n o w n ) t h a t C a r y m i g

h t

s u e t h e t a v

e r n f o r i t s n e g l i g e n t c o n d u c t ; a

n d S t u m b l e I n n k n e w ( o r s h o u l d h a v

e k n own)

that it needed to start interviewing witnesses and preserving evidence. Stumble Inn does

n o t c o n t e n d t h a t i t i s u n a b l e t o m o u n t a d e f e n s e t o t h e R

o h l f s ’ c l a i m s

. R a t h e r

, S t

u m b l e

I n n s e e k s t o d e n y t

h e R o h l f s t h e i r d a y i n c o u r

t

, a n d s e e k s t o a v

o i d h a v i n g t o a n s w e r f

o r

its actions, simply because the Rohlfs did not mail a notice of intent to sue within 180

days of the accident. The Rohlfs’ observation that § 27

- 1

- 710(6), MCA, is “a gratuitous

windfall for the tavern industry” is well

- taken on the facts presented here.

¶ 1 1 4 The Court characterizes the lawmakers who enacted the 180

- day notice provision

a s t h e “ p e o p l e ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

. ” O p i n i o n

, ¶ 3 3

. I

t i s d o u b t f u l t h a t t h e R o h l f s a n d o t h e r

v i c t i m s o f d r

u n k d r i v e r s w i l l s h a r e t

h i s v i e w ; m o r e l i k e l y

, t h e y w i l l view them as the

“alcohol purveyor’s representatives.” As the historical account of dram

- shop liability

r e v e a l s

, t h e L e g i s l a t u r e h a s r e a d i l y o b l i g e d t h e t a v

e r n i n d u s t r y ’ s d e m a n d s ( a n d t h o s e o f

c e r t a i n e v e n t s p o n s o r s

, s u c h a s t h e M o n t a n a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

, t h e H e l e n a C h a m b e r

o f C o m m e r c e

, t h e M o n t a n a U n i v e r s i t y S y s t e m

, a n d D o w n t o w n H e l e n a

, I

n c

. ) f o r

e x e m p t i o n s f r o m t h e c o m m o n l a w r u l e s o f n e g

l i g e n c e a p p l i c a b l e t o e v e r y o n e e l s e

.

I n d e e d

, t h e t a v e r n i n d u s t r y a n d i t s s u p p o r t e r s h a v e b e e n i m m e n s e l y s u c c e s s f u l i n

s t e m m i n g t h e t i d e o f m o d e r n t o r t d o c t r i n e w i t h l e g i s l a t i v e l y c o n f e r r e d p r i v

i l e g e s a n d

i m m u n i t i e s o v

e r t h e p a s t 2 4 y e a r s

. A n d w i t h e a c h n e w s p e c i a l p r o t e c t i o n

, t h e6 6

a c c o u n t a b i l i t y o f t h o s e w

h o s e l l o r f

u r n i s h i n t o x i c a t i n g b e v

e r a g e s l e s s e n s a n d t h e l a w

g o v e r n i n g d r a m

- s h o p l i a b i l i t y c o n c o m i t a n t l y r e g

r e s s e s

. I n d e e d

, t h e p r e s e n t p o l i c y o f

protecting purveyors of alcohol at the expense of the victims of drunk drivers can only be

characterized as “Neanderthal.”

¶ 1 1 5 Meanwhile, ironically, the Legislature is prese ntly agonizing over Montana’s

“ c u l t u r e ” a n d “ d e a d l y t r a d i t i o n ” o f a l c o h o l a b u s e a n d d r u n k d r i v i n g

. Y e t

, o n e o f t h e

f a c t o r s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h i s p r o b l e m i s s t a r i n g l a w m a k e r s i n t h e f a c e : a l c o h o l i c b e v

e r a g e s

a r e s t i l l b e i n g s o l d o r f

u r n i s h e d t o u n d e r a g

e a n d v i s i b l y i n t o x i c a t e d c o n s u m e r s

. T h o s e

w h o d o s o s h o u l d b e h e l d a c c o u n t a b l e f o r s u c h c o n d

u c t

, b u t i n s t e a d t

h e y a r e a l l o w e d t o

h i d e b e h i n d l e g

i s l a t i v e l y c o n f e r r e d s p e c i a l p r o t e c t i o n s

— a s t h e p r e s e n t c a s e i l l u s t r a t e s

. I n

t h i s r e g a r d

, w h e n i t c o m e s t o s t o p p i n g d r u n k d r i v i n g a n d u n l a w f

u l s a l e s o f a l c o h o l

, t

h e r e

h a s b e e n m

u c h d i s c u s s i o n o f h a r s h e r p e n a l t i e s f o r d r u n k d r i v e r s

, m a n d a t o r y t r e a t m e n t

p r o g r a m s f o r t h e s e o f

f e n d e r s

, a n d i n c r e a s e d r e g u l a t i o n o f a l c o h o l p u r v e y o r s

. S e e

g e n e r a l l y E d i t o r i a l

, Changing Minds

– a n d L a w s : L e g i s l a t o r s G i v e t h e i r R e

s p o n s e s o n

W a y s t o S t o p D r u n k e n D r i v i n g

, S a l e s t o M i n o r s

, M i s s o u l i a n ( D e c

. 6

, 7

, a n d 8

, 2 0 0 9 )

.

L e f t o u t o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n e n t i r e l y

, h o w e v e r

, i s h o l d i n g a l c o h o l p u r v e y o r s a c c o u n

t a b l e t o

t h e v i c t i m s o

f d r u n k d r i v e r s by putting such victims back on the same footing as other

v i c t i m s o f n e g

l i g e n t c o n d u c t

. L e f

t o u t o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n i s r e v e r s i n g t h e L e g i s l a t u r e ’ s

a p p r o a c h o f t r e a t i n g t a v

e r n o w n e r s a n d o t h e r a

l c o h o l p u r v

e y o r s a s s p e c i a l b u s i n e s s e s i n

n e e d o f s p e c i a l p r o t e c tions through special legislation. Left out of this discussion is the

L e g i s l a t u r e ’ s o w

n h i s t o r i c a

n d c o n t i n u i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n t o M o n t a n a ’ s c u l t u r e a n d d e a

d l y

t r a d i t i o n o f a l c o h o l a b u s e a n d d r u n k d r i v i n g

.6 7

¶ 1 1 6 As one citizen recently observed: “ ‘Our highways a re paved in blood. It’s time

to change that.’ ” S e e K r i s M i n a r d

, E d i t o r i a l

, T

i m e t o S t o p T o l e r a t i n g D r i v i n

g D r u n k

,

Helena Independent Record 4A (Dec. 15, 2009) (quoting an individual who spoke about

t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f R e v

e n u e ’ s p r o p o s a l t o w e a k e n p e n a l t i e s f o r b a r s

, c a s i n o s

, a n d s t o r e s

t h a t i l l e g a l l y s e l l a l c o h o l t o m

i n o r s )

. I n t h i s s p i r i t

, p e r h a p s t

h e l e s s o n t o b e l e a r n e d f

r o m

c a s e s l i k e D e e d

s

, N e h r i n g

, C u s e n b a r y

, a n d t h e i n s t a n t a c t i o n i s n o t t h a t t h e t a v

e r n

i n d u s t r y n e e d s a l l t h e p r o t e c t i o n s t h a t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e h a s l a v

i s h e d o n i t

, b u t t h a

t a l c o h o l

p u r v e y o r s n e e d t o s h o u l d e r t

h e i r s h a r e o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e c a r n a g

e o n o u r h i g

h w a y s

.

Indeed, as the widow of the Highway Patrolman recently testified, “Our bartenders and

servers are the first line of d efense against drunken driving.” Thus, those in the business

of serving alcoholic beverages have a heightened responsibility, not a lesser one. Making

them less accountable does not encourage them to be more responsible, as Stumble Inn’s

conduct on June 29 and 30, 2006, demonstrates.

¶ 1 1 7 The 180

- day notice provision is “a protection bill” for those in the business of

dispensing alcoholic beverages. It is a “back

- e d d y ” r u n n i n g c o u n t e r t o t h e m a i n s t r e a m o f

m o d e r n t o r

t d o c t r i n e

. B u t m o s t o f a l l

, i t i s s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n b e n e f

i t i n g a n d b u r d e n i n g a

d i s c r e t e g r o u p o f p e r s o n s w

h i l e l e a v i n g a l l o t h e r s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d p e r s o n s s u b j e c t o n l y t o

the provisions of the generally applicable statute of limitations. The Rohlfs have met

their burden of making a “plain show ing of unconstitutionality.” I would reverse the

District Court’s contrary decision and remand for a trial.

¶ 1 1 8 I d i s s e n t

.

/ S / J A M E S C

. N E L S O N