Title: Munford, Inc. v. Peterson
Citation: 368 So. 2d 213
Docket Number: 50856
State: Mississippi
Issuer: Mississippi Supreme Court
Date: February 21, 1979

368 So. 2d 213 (1979) MUNFORD, INC. v. Ira PETERSON et al. No. 50856. Supreme Court of Mississippi. February 21, 1979. Rehearing Denied March 21, 1979. *214 Daniel, Coker, Horton, Bell &amp; Dukes, Cy T. Faneca, Jr., Gulfport, for appellant. Boyce Holleman, Ben F. Galloway, III, Gulfport, for appellees. Before ROBERTSON, WALKER and LEE, JJ. LEE, Justice, for the Court: The parents and brothers of Scott Peterson instituted suit in the Circuit Court, First Judicial District of Harrison County, against Munford, Inc. and Tommy Blankenship for damages accruing by reason of the wrongful death of Scott Peterson. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the Petersons for one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), judgment was entered against Munford, Inc., and in favor of Blankenship, and Munford, Inc. appeals. On the afternoon of May 28, 1975, Scott Peterson and four other boys planned to get together after baseball practice. Peterson and one of the boys were to spend the night at the home of Blankenship. Later that evening, one of them slipped the keys to the family car, found some Vodka, and took it with him to the appointed meeting place (a boy's home). They all went to the Majic Market (owned and operated by the appellant), where they bought some orange juice and later drank it with the Vodka. One of the boys was fifteen (15) years of age, three (3) of them were fourteen (14), and one (1) was thirteen (13). After drinking the Vodka, they went back to the Majic Market and one of the fourteen-year-olds entered the *215 establishment and purchased a six-pack containing 14-oz. cans of beer. The woman operator asked him if he was eighteen (18) years of age. He replied in the affirmative, but she made no effort to have him prove his age or identify himself. The record indicates that he looked no older than a fourteen-year-old boy. The boys went to David Black's house (one of the party) and drank the beer. They then decided to return to the Majic Market for more beer. The seventeen-year-old sister of Black refused to let him leave because she knew they were drinking beer. The other four drove to the Majic Market where a different boy went in and bought a six-pack of beer (king-size). No inquiry was made concerning his age. They went out on a side road and drank the beer. After consuming the second package of beer, the boys went back to the Majic Market where one of them again entered the place and bought another six-pack without any questions being asked about his age. They drove out on the side road, drank the beer and began to ride around. About 4 a.m., Blankenship was driving the automobile and was traveling west on U.S. Highway 90. A hard rain had fallen, there was water on the road, he lost control of the vehicle, crossed the median and south lanes of the highway, hit the seawall, the automobile hurdled fifty-seven (57) feet through the air, landed on the beach, and turned over five (5) times, traveling three hundred thirty-seven and a half (337 1/2) feet. Scott Peterson was thrown out of the car and it rolled over him, fatally crushing his chest. The declaration charged negligence against Munford, Inc. for selling beer to the boys in violation of the law, all of whom were under the age of eighteen (18) years, and who became intoxicated as a result of drinking the beer. Blankenship was charged with negligence in the operation of the vehicle. Appellant contends (1) the trial court erred in overruling appellant's demurrer since the plaintiff failed to state a cause of action upon which relief could be granted, and (2) the trial court erred in instructing the jury that appellant was negligent as a matter of law. Under the common law, there is no action for damages in the selling or giving away of intoxicating liquors. The rule is stated in 45 Am.Jur.2d Intoxicating Liquors § 553, at 852 (1969), as follows: Where there is no statute pertaining to a subject, the common law prevails. City of Jackson v. Wallace, 189 Miss. 252, 196 So. 223 (1940). While the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the common-law principle stated above in Garcia v. Hargrove, 46 Wis.2d 724, 176 N.W.2d 566 (1970), (Wisconsin subscribes to the comparative negligence doctrine) the dissenting opinion of Chief Justice Hallows may have expressed a modern trend: However, in the discussion of the two questions presented here, we do not look to, *216 or decide, the application of the common law in view of our statutes. Mississippi Code Annotated Section 67-3-53(b) (1972) provides the following: The above section is a part of Chapter 3, Title 67 of Mississippi Code Annotated (1972) which relates to the sale of light wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages, the purpose of which was to legalize and regulate the manufacture and sale of such beverages in the State of Mississippi. We are of the opinion that although the said chapter was enacted for the legalization and regulation of the manufacture and sale of such beverages, Section 67-3-53(b) also was adopted for the protection of the general public, including persons such as Scott Peterson. The declaration charged, among other things, that appellant sold beer to the minors in violation of Mississippi law and that such negligence contributed to the wreck and to the death of Scott Peterson. The decisions of other states are divided on the question of liability under the facts hereinabove stated. In Davis v. Shiappacossee, 155 So. 2d 365 (Fla. 1963), a seller of intoxicants to a minor was held to be civilly liable for the death of the minor to whom the product was sold. The Court said: For decisions in other jurisdictions, see also Marusa v. District of Columbia, 157 U.S. App.D.C. 348, 484 F.2d 828 (1973); Brattain v. Herron, 159 Ind. App. 663, 309 N.E.2d 150 (1974); Pence v. Ketchum, 326 So. 2d 831 (La. 1976); Taggart v. Bitzenhofer, 35 Ohio App.2d 23, 299 N.E.2d 901 (1972); Mason v. Roberts, 35 Ohio App.2d 29, 300 N.E.2d 211 (1971). This Court expressed the legislative concern for public safety and legislative intent when enacting the beer and wine statutes, in Alexander v. Graves, 178 Miss. 583, 173 So. 417 (1937), by stating: The principle that violation of a statute constitutes negligence per se is so elementary that it does not require citation of authority. When a statute is violated, the injured party is entitled to an instruction that the party violating the statute is guilty of negligence, and, if that negligence proximately caused or contributed to the injury, then the injured party is entitled to recover. The demurrer admitted that appellant violated the law and the evidence is undisputed that it did so. The demurrer was properly overruled and the peremptory instruction on negligence[1] was correctly given. The law is plain and unambiguous in prohibiting the sale, giving or furnishing beer or wine to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years by the holder of such a *218 permit. The method of determining a minor's age is for the proprietor to select. Suffice it to say, the responsibility is his to see that the law is not violated by him. Appellant further contends (3) the trial court erred in overruling the defendant's motion for a directed verdict since plaintiff failed to prove defendant's action was a proximate cause of the injury, and (4) the trial court erred in overruling defendant's motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict since the jury verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. The evidence is uncontradicted that appellant sold to the minors involved a quantity of beer in violation of the statute, that the driver of the vehicle, Blankenship, and occupants of the automobile were intoxicated to the extent that they were "feeling no pain," that the sister of one of the boys refused to permit him to accompany the other boys to the Majic Market on their second trip to obtain beer because she recognized that they were under the influence of alcohol, that the driver of the car had consumed five (5) 14-oz. cans of beer (over a half gallon) and that on a wet highway, he lost control of the vehicle after having done so. The physical facts showed that the vehicle traveled across the highway, hit the seawall, went over the seawall a distance of fifty-seven (57) feet in the air, traveled 337 1/2 feet and turned over five times in the process, which indicated that it was moving at a high rate of speed. On motion for a directed verdict, all facts proved, together with reasonable inferences, are considered most favorably for the party against whom it is requested. Paymaster Oil Mill Co. v. Mitchell, 319 So. 2d 652 (Miss. 1975). The facts in this case raise a jury issue as to whether or not there was causal connection between the incompetence of the driver as a result of drinking the beer, and the accident. It is required only that the intoxication be a contributing cause to the accident, not the sole proximate cause. The evidence was sufficient to withstand a motion for directed verdict and the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Appellant contends the trial court erred in refusing instructions on contributory negligence and assumption of risk and in granting an instruction that plaintiff was not negligent as a matter of law. The appellant requested an instruction on assumption of risk, which was refused by the court. The instruction contains the general phrase, "that Scott Peterson knew that the conditions in which he placed himself were inconsistent with his safety" throughout. It was not specific, it did not follow the evidence, gave the jury no guide for a determination of the question, and the court committed no error in refusing same. Continental Casualty Company v. Lang, 254 Miss. 422, 181 So. 2d 340 (1965).[2] The co-defendant Blankenship, who received a favorable verdict from the jury, requested an instruction on contributory negligence which was refused. The appellant did not request such an instruction and cannot complain that the court erred in refusing that instruction to Blankenship. The appellees requested and were granted the following instruction: Appellees seek the benefit of the statute to impose liability on appellant, yet argue that Scott Peterson was a member of a protected class and that he could not be guilty of negligence. They cite Hartwell Handle Company v. Jack, 149 Miss. 465, 115 So. 586 (1927). That case construed the Child Labor Laws, is distinguished from the *219 present case and is no authority for their position on this point. We have stated hereinabove that the provision of the statute prohibiting sale of beer to persons under the age of eighteen years (and others named therein) is for the public safety. The evidence is undisputed that Scott Peterson and the other boys chipped in (pooled their money) to buy the beer, that they were all together drinking it, that they all "felt no pain," that they were drinking the beer to make them feel good, and that Scott Peterson knew Blankenship had drunk a quantity of beer, in addition to drinking Vodka. Appellant set up an affirmative defense of contributory negligence in its answer. The instruction (peremptory) directly contradicted the evidence and it precluded the jury from applying the law of comparative negligence, although the appellant did not request an instruction thereon, [Winfield v. Magee, 232 Miss. 57, 98 So. 2d 130 (1957)] was highly prejudicial and constituted reversible error. Appellant further contends the trial court erred in granting Instruction C-00 which allowed the jury to find against appellant without finding against Tommy Blankenship. Part of the above instruction was deleted from the court reporter's notes by typographical error, but the entire instruction was made a part of the record and appears in the abstract. The instruction was properly given. Munford, Inc. cannot complain that the jury found in favor of the plaintiff against it and in favor of Tommy Blankenship, driver of the vehicle. The jury may return a verdict against one co-defendant and for another or in favor of the agent and against the principal. Gulf Refining Company v. Myrick, 220 Miss. 429, 71 So. 2d 217 (1954), held: Appellant assigns and argues (7) the closing argument of appellees' counsel was designed to invoke sympathy for the other parties and prejudice appellant; (8) the trial court erred in not granting appellant's motion for a mistrial because of remarks made by appellee's counsel in opening argument; *220 (9) the trial court erred in refusing to overrule appellant's objections to opposing counsel's interrogation of a prospective juror, Marilyn Knight; (10) the trial court erred in refusing appellant's motion in limine and admitting evidence of other sales of beer [sales to other boys in the group]; and (11) cumulative effect of the errors made by the trial judge was so prejudicial that the effect constitutes reversible error. We have carefully considered those assignments and conclude that, either they do not constitute error, or they will not occur on a retrial. REVERSED AND REMANDED. PATTERSON, C.J., SMITH and ROBERTSON, P. JJ., and SUGG, WALKER, BROOM, BOWLING and COFER, JJ., concur. [1] "The Court instructs the jury that in this case, the Defendant, Munford, Inc. was negligent as a matter of law." [2] Morris v. Lammons, 243 Miss. 684, 139 So. 2d 867 (1962) and Saxton v. Rose, 201 Miss. 814, 29 So. 2d 696 (1947) hold that an assumption of risk instruction is proper in a case involving an intoxicated driver.