Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/404/404mass624.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 00:56:00+00:00

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CIVIL ACTION commenced in the Superior Court Department on December 29, 1981.
Motions for summary judgment were heard by J. Harold Flannery, J.
Elizabeth N. Mulvey for the plaintiff.
David W. Rosenberg for Paramount Pictures Corporation.
James S. Dittmar (Gordon P. Katz, Rhonda L. Russian & Joseph H. Caffrey with him) for Saxon Theatre Corporation.
O'CONNOR, J. The plaintiff, William Yakubowicz, administrator of the estate of his son, Martin Yakubowicz, appeals from an order of the Superior Court granting summary judgment to the defendants, Paramount Pictures Corporation (Paramount) and Saxon Theatre Corporation (Saxon), on a complaint seeking damages for wrongful death under G. L. c. 229, Section 2 (1986 ed.). The complaint alleges that sixteen year old Martin Yakubowicz died from a knife wound intentionally inflicted on February 15, 1979, by Michael Barrett, who was returning from a theatre in Boston operated by Saxon, after viewing the motion picture, "The Warriors," which was produced and distributed by Paramount. The complaint alleges that both defendants knew of violence and threats of violence perpetrated by members of "gangs" attending showings of the film in Boston and in California, and that Martin Yakubowicz's death was causally related to the defendants' exhibition of the film to Michael Barrett.
Specifically, count one alleges that Paramount produced, distributed, and advertised "The Warriors" in such a way as to induce film viewers to commit violence in imitation of the violence in the film. Counts two and four allege that Paramount and Saxon caused the decedent's death by continuing to exhibit the film after learning of "an unprecedented series of lawless violent acts" at or near theatres showing the film. Count three charges Paramount with failure to warn exhibitors and public authorities of the danger of violence, and "failure to take reasonable steps to protect [persons] at or near the theatre." Count five alleges that Michael Barrett consumed alcohol while viewing "The Warriors," and left the theatre in an intoxicated state, and charges Saxon with failing to exercise proper supervision and control over its patrons.
Both defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that, as a matter of law, they owed no duty to the decedent, and that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and art. 16 of the Declaration of Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution, as amended by art. 77 of the Amendments, bar liability for their exhibition of the film. The judge who ruled on the motions for summary judgment noted that the "decedent was neither a patron nor within the proximity of the Saxon Theatre at the time of the incident," and that Saxon did not supply Barrett with any alcoholic beverages. He concluded that there was no "special relationship" between the plaintiff's decedent and either defendant and that therefore the defendants owed no duty to the plaintiff's decedent. Accordingly, the judge granted the defendants' motion without reaching the constitutional question. We affirm the summary judgment order, although our reasoning differs from that of the judge.
"Rule 56 (c) of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure, 365 Mass. 824 (1974), provides that summary judgment is appropriate `if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.' `The party moving for summary judgment assumes the burden of affirmatively demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of material fact on every relevant issue, even if he would have no burden on an issue if the case were to go to trial.' Pederson v. Time, Inc., ante 14, 17 (1989). Attorney Gen. v. Bailey, 386 Mass. 367 , 371, cert. denied sub nom. Bailey v. Bellotti, 459 U.S. 970 (1982)." Leavitt v. Mizner, ante 81, 88 (1989). Accordingly, we look at the materials available to the judge for summary judgment purposes in the light most favorable to the plaintiff to see whether, as a matter of law, they support a claim for wrongful death.
they pursue one gang, the "Warriors," through the subways of New York City. Advertising for the film depicted menacing youths wielding baseball bats. The film opened at the Saxon Theatre on February 9, 1979. Paramount executives scheduled the film for release in Massachusetts during February school vacation week in order to maximize attendance by high school-aged patrons.
On February 12, 1979, two youths were killed near theatres showing "The Warriors" in Palm Springs and Oxnard, California. [Note 3] Paramount officials were aware of claims that the Palm Springs killing was related to the viewing of the film, "The Warriors." On February 13, 1979, Frank Mancuso, a Paramount employee in charge of film distribution throughout the United States, distributed a telegram to his district and branch managers ordering them to advise each theatre showing "The Warriors" to hire security guards. The telegram stated that "there have been incidents of violence at theatres that might have been prevented with proper security and crowd control." Paramount offered to pay for the extra security. Saxon, in a letter to Paramount dated February 15, 1979, accepted the offer of reimbursement for extra security and also reported a problem of vandalism at showings of "The Warriors."
against admitting patrons carrying alcoholic beverages or bottles of any kind. Once inside the theatre, Barrett began drinking, in violation of Saxon's policy against consuming alcohol on the premises. Saxon did not have a license for the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages, and Saxon employees did not provide Barrett with any alcohol. Barrett and his friends sat through two showings of the movie. Barrett became so intoxicated that he vomited and passed out at the theatre during the second showing. After the movie, Barrett and his friends left the theatre and headed back to Dorchester by way of the Park Street subway station.
Another group of Dorchester teenagers, including Dino Troila, attended the same showing of "The Warriors" and also headed home by way of the Park Street station. There was a history of arguments and "tension" between this group and the group of youths that Barrett "hung out" with. While the teenagers were waiting for the train, the decedent came onto the platform. He had not been to see "The Warriors," but had been at work at a ski shop on Boylston Street. The decedent was friendly with Troila and got on the train with that group. Barrett and his friends boarded the same car.
As the train approached the Fields Corner subway station in Dorchester, Barrett's friend, Mark Rogers, approached Troila and tried to arrange a fight "one on one" between the decedent and Barrett. Barrett also began yelling at the decedent and challenging him to fight. Barrett referred to a fight that had occurred several months earlier between Barrett and some friends of the decedent. The decedent was not present at that earlier fight. Barrett said to the decedent, "I want you, I'm going to get you," purportedly in imitation of a scene from "The Warriors." The decedent repeatedly told Barrett that he did not want to fight.
Both groups left the subway at the Fields Corner station. As the decedent passed through the turnstyle area, Barrett, who was still drunk, jumped on him and began to fight. Troila and Rogers also became involved in the altercation. Barrett pulled a knife and stabbed the decedent in the chest. The decedent died the following morning.
On February 16, 1979, the day following the stabbing, Frank Mancuso, on behalf of Paramount, distributed a telegram offering to release theatre owners from their contractual obligations to show "The Warriors." The telegram stated: "It has come to our attention through newspaper and television reports that acts of violence and vandalism have occurred in and around theatres exhibiting THE WARRIORS. . . . Please be advised that in the event you believe that the exhibition of this motion picture in your theatre poses a risk to persons or property, then Paramount will relieve you of your obligation to exhibit the picture . . . ." The telegram also stated that Paramount was cancelling all Paramount supported advertising for "The Warriors." This was the first time that Paramount ever took such action. Saxon received this telegram, but continued to exhibit "The Warriors" daily through April 5, 1979.
Counts one through four of the complaint allege, in essence, that Paramount was negligent in the way it produced, distributed, advertised, and exhibited the film, "The Warriors," and that Saxon was negligent in its continued exhibition of the film, and that the defendants' negligence proximately caused the death of the plaintiff's decedent.
to minors, Michnik-Zilberman v. Gordon's Liquor, Inc., 390 Mass. 6 , 10-12 (1983). In keeping with that principle, Paramount and Saxon owed a duty of reasonable care to members of the public including the plaintiff's decedent with respect to the producing, exhibiting, and advertising of movies.
incite or produce such action." Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444, 447 (1969). But speech does not lose its First Amendment protection merely because it has "a tendency to lead to violence." Hess v. Indiana, 414 U.S. 105, 109 (1973).
A copy of the film has been made available as part of the record on summary judgment. The undisputed affidavit of Alfred F. LoPresti, a Paramount senior vice president, asserts that this copy is identical to the one exhibited to Barrett at the Saxon Theatre. We treat as a question of law whether this film constitutes "incitement" for First Amendment purposes. DeFilippo v. NBC, 446 A.2d 1036, 1041 (R.I. 1982). Although that determination is essentially a factual one, it is our responsibility to decide it incidental to our legal determination whether the movie is protected by the First Amendment. See Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of U.S., Inc., 466 U.S. 485, 505-506 (1984); New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra at 285.
restrict . . . creativity in order to avoid the dissemination of ideas in artistic speech which may adversely affect emotionally troubled individuals." McCollum v. CBS, Inc., supra at 1005-1006. We thus conclude that summary judgment for the defendants is proper on counts one, two, and four.
Count three of the complaint alleges that Paramount failed to take reasonable steps "to warn the exhibitors of the film and those responsible for the safety of the public" and "to take reasonable steps to protect [people] at or near the theatre." The judge correctly ordered summary judgment for Paramount on count three. A fatal assault occurring miles from the theatre as a matter of law could not be attributed to a failure to "protect [people] at or near the theatre" or a failure to warn Saxon or public officials of the dangers of film-related violence.
supply the intoxicants. See Dhimos v. Cormier, 400 Mass. 504 (1987); Langemann v. Davis, 398 Mass. 166 (1986).
[Note 1] Of the estate of Martin Yakubowicz.
[Note 2] Saxon Theatre Corporation.
[Note 3] The plaintiff states "[u]pon information and belief" that these youths were killed "by persons who just had seen" "The Warriors." The plaintiff's brief supports this statement by citing the transcript of a news report; however, this news report does not in fact state whether the assailants had seen the motion picture.
[Note 4] In any event, the defendants cannot be liable for exercising those rights. See New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra at 283.

References: art. 16
 art. 77
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