Title: Elaine Johnson v. Brunswick Riverview Club, Inc., and Leiserv, Inc., d/b/a Brunswick Riverview Lanes
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1071128
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: December 4, 2009

Rel 12/04/09 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r 
o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s 
may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1071128 
E l a i n e Johnson 
v. 
Brunswick R i v e r v i e w Club, Inc., 
and L e i s e r v , Inc., 
d/b/a 
Brunswick R i v e r v i e w Lanes 
Appeal from Shelby C i r c u i t Court 
(CV-07-138) 
PER CURIAM. 
E l a i n e J o h n s o n a p p e a l s f r o m a summary j u d g m e n t e n t e r e d 
i n 
f a v o r o f B r u n s w i c k 
R i v e r v i e w 
C l u b , 
I n c . , a n d L e i s e r v , I n c . , 
d/b/a 
B r u n s w i c k 
R i v e r v i e w 
L a n e s 
( h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o 
c o l l e c t i v e l y as " B r u n s w i c k " ) . 
We 
a f f i r m . 
F a c t s a n d P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
1071128 
The 
e v i d e n c e , 
v i e w e d 
i n 
t h e 
l i g h t 
most 
f a v o r a b l e 
t o 
J o h n s o n , 
t h e 
nonmovant, 
W i l m a 
C o r p . 
v. 
F l e m i n g 
Foods 
o f 
 
A l a b a m a , 
I n c . , 
613 
So. 
2d 
359 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 3 ) , 
s u g g e s t s 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
f a c t s . 
On 
November 
14, 
2005, 
a t 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
3:30 
p.m., 
J o h n s o n ' s 
s o n , 
K e i t h 
Oden, 
a r r i v e d 
a l o n e 
a t 
B r u n s w i c k 
R i v e r v i e w 
L a n e s , 
a 
b o w l i n g 
a l l e y 
owned 
by 
L e i s e r v , 
I n c . 
B r u n s w i c k 
R i v e r v i e w 
C l u b , 
I n c . , 
owns 
t h e 
l i c e n s e 
f o r 
t h e 
o p e r a t i o n 
o f 
a c l u b 
on 
t h e 
p r e m i s e s 
o f B r u n s w i c k 
R i v e r v i e w 
L a n e s . 
B e t w e e n 5:00 
p.m. 
and 5:30 
p.m., 
Oden t e l e p h o n e d Shawn 
S c r i p p s 
and 
a s k e d S c r i p p s 
t o 
j o i n 
h i m 
a t t h e 
b o w l i n g 
a l l e y . 
A c c o r d i n g 
t o 
S c r i p p s , 
he 
c o u l d 
t e l l 
f r o m 
t h e 
t e l e p h o n e 
c o n v e r s a t i o n 
t h a t Oden was 
i n t o x i c a t e d . A t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
6:00 
p.m., 
S c r i p p s 
a r r i v e d a t t h e b o w l i n g 
a l l e y and b e g a n t o b o w l 
and 
t o d r i n k b e e r w i t h Oden. 
A c c o r d i n g 
t o S c r i p p s , Oden 
was 
" l o u d 
and 
b o i s t e r o u s " w h i l e 
t h e y were a t t h e 
b o w l i n g 
a l l e y , 
and 
an e m p l o y e e o f t h e b o w l i n g 
a l l e y " h a d 
t o 
c a l l K e i t h down 
b e c a u s e he was 
u s i n g i n a p p r o p r i a t e l a n g u a g e i n t h e v i c i n i t y 
o f 
a f a m i l y who 
was 
a l s o b o w l i n g . " 
A c r e d i t - c a r d r e c e i p t shows 
t h a t b e t w e e n 
3:37 
p.m. 
and 
7:54 
p.m. 
t h e 
e m p l o y e e s 
o f 
t h e 
b o w l i n g 
a l l e y 
s o l d 
f o u r 
60-ounce p i t c h e r s 
o f b e e r 
t o Oden. 
2 
1071128 
A r o u n d 8:00 p.m., 
Oden 
d r o v e h i s v e h i c l e f r o m t h e 
b o w l i n g 
a l l e y ; nobody e l s e was i n t h e v e h i c l e . 
S h o r t l y a f t e r 
l e a v i n g 
t h e b o w l i n g 
a l l e y , Oden was i n v o l v e d i n a o n e - v e h i c l e 
a c c i d e n t 
i n w h i c h he was 
k i l l e d . 
Oden's b l o o d - a l c o h o l 
l e v e l a t t h e 
t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t was 0.39, a l m o s t 
f i v e 
t i m e s 
t h e 
l e g a l 
l i m i t 
f o r o p e r a t i n g 
a v e h i c l e . See § 3 2 - 5 A - 1 9 1 , A l a . Code 
1975. 
The 
i n t e r n a l 
a l c o h o l i c - b e v e r a g e - s e r v i c e 
p o l i c y 
a t 
B r u n s w i c k R i v e r v i e w L a n e s p r o h i b i t e d s e l l i n g a p i t c h e r o f b e e r 
f o r 
c o n s u m p t i o n b y a 
s i n g l e 
i n d i v i d u a l . 
The 
p o l i c y 
a l s o 
s t a t e d t h a t any c u s t o m e r s h o w i n g v i s i b l e s i g n s o f i n t o x i c a t i o n 
s h o u l d be u r g e d b y t h e s e r v e r o r manager t o u s e a l t e r n a t i v e 
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d , i f 
t h e c u s t o m e r r e f u s e s t o u s e a l t e r n a t i v e 
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t h e e m p l o y e e s h o u l d 
i n f o r m t h e c u s t o m e r 
t h a t 
t h e a p p r o p r i a t e l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t o f f i c i a l s 
w i l l be n o t i f i e d i f 
t h e c u s t o m e r a t t e m p t s t o d r i v e a v e h i c l e away f r o m t h e b o w l i n g 
a l l e y . 
A t t h e t i m e o f h i s d e a t h , Oden was 31 y e a r s o l d , 
and he 
owned and o p e r a t e d a l a n d s c a p i n g b u s i n e s s . 
J o h n s o n 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t Oden d i d 
n o t l i v e w i t h h e r and t h a t he was n o t p r o v i d i n g 
h e r any f i n a n c i a l 
s u p p o r t 
a t t h e t i m e o f h i s d e a t h . 
J o h n s o n 
3 
1071128 
a l s o 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
she 
d i d n o t 
have 
any 
e x p e c t a t i o n 
o f 
r e c e i v i n g 
any 
f i n a n c i a l 
s u p p o r t f r o m Oden 
i n t h e 
f u t u r e . 
J o h n s o n p a i d $3,000 f o r Oden's f u n e r a l e x p e n s e s p u r s u a n t t o a 
c o n t r a c t she e n t e r e d i n t o w i t h a f u n e r a l home on November 16, 
2005. 
On May 5, 2006, J o h n s o n , i n h e r i n d i v i d u a l c a p a c i t y , 
s u e d 
B r u n s w i c k , a s s e r t i n g a c l a i m u n d e r A l a b a m a ' s Dram Shop A c t , § 
6-5-71, A l a . Code 
1975, 
and 
a 
c l a i m 
o f 
n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
t r a i n i n g , 
a n d / o r 
s u p e r v i s i o n 
o f e m p l o y e e s . 
B r u n s w i c k moved 
f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t 
J o h n s o n 
d i d n o t 
have 
s t a n d i n g 
t o b r i n g a c l a i m u n d e r t h e Dram Shop A c t b e c a u s e , i t 
a r g u e d , she was n o t " i n j u r e d i n p e r s o n , p r o p e r t y , 
o r means o f 
s u p p o r t , " as r e q u i r e d by t h e A c t . 
B r u n s w i c k a l s o a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
c l a i m o f n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
t r a i n i n g , 
a n d / o r 
s u p e r v i s i o n 
f a i l s 
b e c a u s e , 
i t a l l e g e d , 
A l a b a m a 
does 
n o t 
r e c o g n i z e 
a 
common-law c a u s e o f a c t i o n 
f o r t h e n e g l i g e n t 
d i s p e n s i n g 
o f 
a l c o h o l ; t h e Dram Shop A c t p r o v i d e s t h e e x c l u s i v e remedy f o r 
t h e 
u n l a w f u l 
d i s p e n s i n g 
o f 
a l c o h o l 
t o an 
a d u l t . 
J o h n s o n 
r e s p o n d e d 
t h a t 
she h a d 
s t a n d i n g 
t o b r i n g a c l a i m u n d e r 
t h e 
Dram 
Shop 
A c t 
b e c a u s e , 
she 
s a i d , 
h e r 
m e n t a l 
a n g u i s h 
c o n s t i t u t e d an i n j u r y t o h e r p e r s o n and h e r payment o f Oden's 
4 
1071128 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s 
c o n s t i t u t e d 
an 
i n j u r y 
t o h e r 
p r o p e r t y . 
J o h n s o n 
a l s o 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
B r u n s w i c k 
was 
a t t e m p t i n g 
t o 
m i s r e p r e s e n t 
h e r 
n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
t r a i n i n g , 
a n d / o r 
s u p e r v i s i o n c l a i m . 
J o h n s o n a l l e g e d t h a t 
t h i s c l a i m d o e s n o t 
a s s e r t 
t h a t 
B r u n s w i c k 
i s l i a b l e 
f o r n e g l i g e n t l y 
s e r v i n g 
a l c o h o l . 
J o h n s o n 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
" [ t ] h e 
c o n d u c t 
w h i c h [ s h e ] 
a l l e g e s c o n s t i t u t e s n e g l i g e n c e 
on t h e p a r t o f [ B r u n s w i c k ] i s 
t h e c o n d u c t o f h i r i n g , 
t r a i n i n g , a n d / o r s u p e r v i s i n g e m p l o y e e s 
i n 
c a r r y i n g o u t d u t i e s w h i c h a r e r e q u i r e d b y s t a t u t e . " 
On 
A p r i l 
8, 2008, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
a summary 
j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f B r u n s w i c k , 
h o l d i n g : 
on 
on 
" T h i s 
m a t t e r 
came 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
c o u r t 
[ B r u n s w i c k ' s ] m o t i o n f o r summary j u d g m e n t 
f i l e d 
o r a b o u t November 15, 2007. 
The c o u r t 
h e a r d 
o r a l 
a r g u m e n t s on F e b r u a r y 25, 2008. 
B o t h 
[ J o h n s o n ] and 
[ B r u n s w i c k ] 
f i l e d 
s u p p l e m e n t a l memorandum on M a r c h 
10, 
2008. 
A f t e r 
c o n s i d e r a t i o n 
o f t h e 
m o t i o n s , 
p l e a d i n g s and a r g u m e n t s , t h e c o u r t i s 
o f t h e o p i n i o n 
t h a t 
[ B r u n s w i c k ' s ] 
m o t i o n f o r summary j u d g m e n t i s 
due t o be g r a n t e d . 
The c o u r t 
f i n d s t h a t 
p l a i n t i f f , 
E l a i n e J o h n s o n , m o t h e r o f t h e d e c e d e n t , b r o u g h t 
t h i s 
l a w s u i t 
i n h e r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
A l a b a m a ' s 
Dram 
S h o p 
A c t . A l a b a m a 
Code 
S e c t i o n 
6-5-71. 
The 
c o u r t 
f i n d s 
t h a t 
[ J o h n s o n ] was n o t 
i n j u r e d i n ' p e r s o n , p r o p e r t y o r means o f s u p p o r t ' as 
c o n t e m p l a t e d i n t h e A c t . 
F o r t h e s e 
r e a s o n s , and 
o t h e r s as s e t o u t i n [ B r u n s w i c k ' s ] b r i e f , t h e c o u r t 
h e r e b y 
g r a n t s 
[ B r u n s w i c k ' s ] 
m o t i o n 
f o r summary 
j u d g m e n t 
and 
d i s m i s s e s 
a l l c l a i m s 
by 
[ J o h n s o n ] 
a g a i n s t 
[ B r u n s w i c k ] . " 
5 
1071128 
J o h n s o n 
a p p e a l e d . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
I n P i t t m a n v. U n i t e d T o l l 
S y s t e m s , 
L L C , 882 So. 2d 842 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
s e t f o r t h t h e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w 
a p p l i c a b l e t o a summary j u d g m e n t : 
" T h i s C o u r t ' s r e v i e w o f a summary j u d g m e n t i s 
de 
n o v o . 
" ' I n 
r e v i e w i n g t h e d i s p o s i t i o n 
o f a 
m o t i o n 
f o r summary j u d g m e n t , "we 
u t i l i z e 
t h e same 
s t a n d a r d as t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t i n 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
w h e t h e r 
t h e e v i d e n c e 
b e f o r e 
[ i t ] made o u t a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t , " B u s s e y v . J o h n D e e r e Co., 531 So. 2d 
860, 
862 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 8 ) , 
a n d w h e t h e r t h e 
movant was 
" e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g m e n t as a 
m a t t e r o f l a w . " 
W r i g h t v. W r i g h t , 654 So. 
2d 542 
( A l a . 1 
9 9 5 ) ; 
R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. 
C i v . P. When t h e 
movant makes a p r i m a 
f a c i e 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t t h e r e i s no g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t , 
t h e b u r d e n 
s h i f t s 
t o t h e 
nonmovant t o p r e s e n t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
c r e a t i n g s u c h an i s s u e . B a s s v . S o u t h T r u s t  
Bank o f B a l d w i n 
C o u n t y , 
538 So. 2d 7 
94 
, 
797-98 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) . 
E v i d e n c e 
i s 
" s u b s t a n t i a l " i f 
i t 
i s 
o f " s u c h w e i g h t a n d 
q u a l i t y 
t h a t 
f a i r - m i n d e d p e r s o n s 
i n t h e 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
i m p a r t i a l 
j u d g m e n t 
c a n 
r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f a c t 
s o u g h t t o 
be p r o v e d . " W r i g h t , 654 So. 2d 
a t 
543 
( q u o t i n g 
West 
v . 
F o u n d e r s 
L i f e 
 
A s s u r a n c e Co. o f F l o r i d a , 547 So. 2d 870, 
871 
( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) ) . Our r e v i e w i s f u r t h e r 
s u b j e c t t o t h e c a v e a t t h a t t h i s C o u r t must 
r e v i e w t h e r e c o r d i n 
a l i g h t most f a v o r a b l e 
t o 
t h e nonmovant 
a n d must 
r e s o l v e a l l 
r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t s a g a i n s t t h e 
m o v a n t . W i l m a 
6 
1071128 
C o r p . 
v. 
F l e m i n g Foods 
o f A l a b a m a , 
I n c . , 
613 
So. 
2d 
359 
( A l a . 
1993) 
[ o v e r r u l e d 
on 
o t h e r g r o u n d s , B r u c e v. C o l e , 
854 
So. 
2d 
47 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) ] ; H a n n e r s v. 
B a l f o u r 
G u t h r i e , 
 
I n c . , 
564 
So. 
2d 
412, 
413 
( A l a . 1 9 9 0 ) . ' " 
882 
So. 
2d 
a t 844 
( q u o t i n g Hobson v. A m e r i c a n C a s t I r o n 
P i p e 
Co., 
690 
So. 
2d 
341, 
344 
( A l a . 1 9 9 7 ) ) . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
F i r s t , 
J o h n s o n 
a l l e g e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d 
i n 
e n t e r i n g a summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f B r u n s w i c k on h e r Dram 
Shop A c t 
c l a i m b e c a u s e , she 
s a y s , 
she 
d e m o n s t r a t e d an 
i n j u r y 
t o h e r 
p r o p e r t y 
and 
an 
i n j u r y t o h e r 
p e r s o n , 
as 
r e q u i r e d 
by 
t h e 
A c t . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
J o h n s o n a l l e g e s 
t h a t 
t h e payment 
o f 
Oden's f u n e r a l e x p e n s e s c o n s t i t u t e d an i n j u r y t o h e r 
p r o p e r t y 
and 
t h a t 
h e r 
m e n t a l 
a n g u i s h 
f r o m 
t h e 
l o s s 
o f 
h e r 
son 
c o n s t i t u t e d an i n j u r y t o h e r p e r s o n w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g o f 
t h e 
Dram Shop 
A c t . 
S e c t i o n 6-5-71, A l a . Code 1975, 
A l a b a m a ' s Dram Shop 
A c t , 
p r o v i d e s , 
i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , 
as 
f o l l o w s : 
" E v e r y 
w i f e , 
c h i l d , 
p a r e n t , 
o r 
o t h e r 
p e r s o n 
who 
s h a l l 
be 
i n j u r e d 
i n p e r s o n , 
p r o p e r t y , 
o r means 
o f 
s u p p o r t by 
any 
i n t o x i c a t e d p e r s o n o r i n c o n s e q u e n c e 
o f t h e i n t o x i c a t i o n o f any p e r s o n s h a l l h a v e a r i g h t 
o f a c t i o n a g a i n s t 
any p e r s o n who 
s h a l l , 
by 
s e l l i n g , 
g i v i n g , 
o r 
o t h e r w i s e 
d i s p o s i n g 
o f 
t o 
a n o t h e r , 
c o n t r a r y 
t o 
t h e 
p r o v i s i o n s 
o f 
l a w , 
any 
l i q u o r s 
o r 
b e v e r a g e s , c a u s e t h e i n t o x i c a t i o n o f s u c h p e r s o n f o r 
7 
1071128 
a l l damages a c t u a l l y s u s t a i n e d , as w e l l as e x e m p l a r y 
damages." 
T h i s C o u r t has c o n c l u d e d t h a t "§ 6-5-71 i s p e n a l i n n a t u r e and 
t h a t 
i t s p u r p o s e 
i s t o p u n i s h t h e 
o w n e r s 
o f 
t a v e r n s 
who 
c o n t i n u e 
t o 
s e r v e 
c u s t o m e r s 
a f t e r 
t h e y 
have 
become 
i n t o x i c a t e d . " M c I s a a c v. Monte C a r l o C l u b , I n c . , 587 
So. 
2d 
320, 324 
( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) . 
B o t h s i d e s a c k n o w l e d g e 
t h a t , i n o r d e r f o r J o h n s o n t o be 
a b l e t o r e c o v e r u n d e r t h e Dram Shop A c t , she must be a " p e r s o n 
who 
[was] i n j u r e d i n p e r s o n , p r o p e r t y , o r means o f s u p p o r t " by 
Oden's 
i n t o x i c a t i o n . 
However, 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
d i s a g r e e 
as 
t o 
w h e t h e r t h e payment o f Oden's f u n e r a l e x p e n s e s c o n s t i t u t e d an 
i n j u r y 
t o 
J o h n s o n ' s 
p r o p e r t y 
and 
w h e t h e r 
J o h n s o n ' s 
m e n t a l 
a n g u i s h c a u s e d by h e r s o n ' s d e a t h c o n s t i t u t e d an i n j u r y t o h e r 
p e r s o n f o r p u r p o s e s o f t h e Dram Shop A c t . 
These i s s u e s a p p e a r 
t o 
i n v o l v e q u e s t i o n s o f 
f i r s t 
i m p r e s s i o n f o r t h i s C o u r t . 
I n 
M c I s a a c , 
a 
p a s s e n g e r 
was 
s e v e r e l y 
i n j u r e d 
i n 
an 
a u t o m o b i l e 
a c c i d e n t , 
and 
h i s m o t h e r 
s u e d 
a b a r 
and 
o t h e r s 
u n d e r t h e Dram Shop A c t , a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s s o l d t h e 
d r i v e r 
o f t h e a u t o m o b i l e i n w h i c h h e r 
s o n was 
a 
p a s s e n g e r 
i n t o x i c a t i n g l i q u o r w h i l e he was a l r e a d y v i s i b l y 
i n t o x i c a t e d . 
The p a s s e n g e r , a 2 1 - y e a r - o l d a d u l t , 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t he h a d n o t 
8 
1071128 
l i v e d a t home f o r 
some t i m e . 
F u r t h e r m o r e , he s t a t e d t h a t he 
was n o t a d e p e n d e n t b e c a u s e he h a d a j o b w i t h a 
t e l e p h o n e 
company a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
T h i s C o u r t e x a m i n e d t h e 
m o t h e r ' s c l a i m , as f o l l o w s : 
"[The m o t h e r ] a l l e g e d i n t h e c o m p l a i n t t h a t she 
e x p e n d e d v a r i o u s sums o f money on [ t h e 
p a s s e n g e r ] as 
a r e s u l t o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n o f 
t h e 
Dram Shop A c t ; h o w e v e r , t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e b e f o r e 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t t o s u p p o r t 
h e r a l l e g a t i o n . 
Upon 
f i l i n g 
t h e i r 
m o t i o n 
f o r summary 
j u d g m e n t , 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
p r o d u c e d 
e v i d e n c e , 
t h r o u g h 
d e p o s i t i o n 
e x c e r p t s , 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
e x i s t e d no g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
as 
t o 
[ t h e 
m o t h e r ' s ] 
c l a i m s . 
S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e b u r d e n 
s h i f t e d t o [ t h e 
m o t h e r ] t o 
show, b y a d m i s s i b l e e v i d e n c e , a g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t . 
B r i d g e w a y 
C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , 
I n c . v .  
T r i o B r o a d c a s t i n g , I n c . , 562 So. 2d 222 ( A l a . 1 9 9 0 ) . 
"[The m o t h e r ] f a i l e d t o meet t h i s b u r d e n i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , and i t 
i s 
now t o o l a t e f o r 
h e r t o p r o v e 
h e r 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
b e f o r e 
t h i s 
C o u r t . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
c o n c l u d e s t h a t [ t h e m o t h e r ] p r e s e n t e d no s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
she h a d b e e n 
i n j u r e d 
i n 
' p e r s o n , 
p r o p e r t y , o r means o f s u p p o r t , ' as r e q u i r e d b y t h e 
A c t . We a f f i r m t h e summary j u d g m e n t [ i n f a v o r o f 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ] as t o [ t h e m o t h e r ] . " 
587 So. 2d a t 325. The o p i n i o n does n o t e x p l a i n t h e s p e c i f i c 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e 
m o t h e r ' s a l l e g a t i o n t h a t she 
h a d 
e x p e n d e d v a r i o u s sums o f money on h e r s o n , and t h e r e i s no 
i n d i c a t i o n 
t h a t 
t h i s 
C o u r t was p r e s e n t e d w i t h o r c o n s i d e r e d 
t h e s p e c i f i c 
i s s u e w h e t h e r a m o t h e r ' s e x p e n d i n g money on h e r 
a d u l t 
s o n as a 
r e s u l t 
o f an 
a l c o h o l - r e l a t e d 
a c c i d e n t c a n 
9 
1071128 
c o n s t i t u t e an i n j u r y t o p r o p e r t y u n d e r t h e 
Dram Shop A c t a n d 
t h u s g i v e t h e 
m o t h e r a d i r e c t c a u s e o f a c t i o n u n d e r t h e 
A c t . 
T h i s C o u r t s i m p l y h e l d t h a t " t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t t o s u p p o r t 
[ t h e m o t h e r ' s ] a l l e g a t i o n . " 587 So. 
2d 
a t 3 2 5 . T h e r e f o r e , M c I s a a c i s 
n o t c o n t r o l l i n g i n 
t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e . 
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 h a v e h e l d t h a t a p a r e n t ' s 
payment o f f u n e r a l e x p e n s e s f o r a m i n o r c h i l d i s 
an i n j u r y t o 
t h e p a r e n t ' s p r o p e r t y u n d e r t h e 
d r a m - s h o p a c t s i n 
t h e i r s t a t e s 
b e c a u s e t h e 
p a r e n t was o b l i g a t e d t o 
p a y 
t h e f u n e r a l e x p e n s e s , 
and t h e 
payment o f t h o s e e x p e n s e s i m p a i r e d t h e 
p a r e n t ' s 
t o t a l 
a s s e t s . G l a e s e m a n n v . V i l l a g e o f 
New B r i g h t o n , 268 M i n n . 4 3 2 , 
434-35, 130 N.W.2d 43, 44-45 (1964) 
( c i t i n g H e r b e s v . V i l l a g e  
o f H o l d i n g f o r d , 267 M i n n . 75, 85, 125 N.W.2d 426, 
433 ( 1 9 6 3 ) , 
c i t i n g i n t u r n 
I s z l e r v . J o r d a , 80 N.W.2d 665, 669 (N.D. 
1 9 5 7 ) ) . 
A l s o , i n 
Ragan v . P r o t k o , 66 
I l l . App. 3d 2 5 7 , 
383 
N.E.2d 745, 22 I l l . Dec. 
937 ( 1 9 7 8 ) , p a r e n t s o f a 2 1 - y e a r - o l d 
son 
k i l l e d i n a m o t o r - v e h i c l e 
a c c i d e n t b r o u g h t a d r a m - s h o p 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t a t a v e r n 
o p e r a t o r t o r e c o v e r f o r i n j u r y t o 
t h e i r " p r o p e r t y " r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e i r s o n ' s i n t o x i c a t i o n . 
I n 
h o l d i n g 
t h a t t h e p a r e n t s 
c o u l d n o t be 
i n j u r e d 
i n 
t h e i r 
10 
1071128 
" p r o p e r t y " w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e 
I l l i n o i s Dram Shop A c t 
by 
v o l u n t a r i l y 
p a y i n g 
o r 
a s s u m i n g 
l i a b i l i t y 
f o r 
m e d i c a l 
o r 
f u n e r a l e x p e n s e s c a u s e d by t h e i n t o x i c a t i o n o f t h e i r s o n , 
t h e 
A p p e l l a t e C o u r t o f I l l i n o i s 
e x p l i c i t l y h e l d t h a t " i n o r d e r 
f o r 
a 
p a r e n t 
t o 
r e c o v e r 
f o r 
h i s 
c h i l d ' s 
m e d i c a l 
and 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s , he must be 
l e g a l l y 
l i a b l e 
f o r t h e c h a r g e s , and 
t h e 
b a s i s 
f o r s u c h 
l i a b i l i t y must e x i s t 
p r i o r 
t o t h e 
c r e a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
c h a r g e s 
and 
n o t 
a r i s e due 
t o 
a v o l u n t a r y 
a s s u m p t i o n 
o f 
f i n a n c i a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
a f t e r t h e 
f a c t . " 
66 
I l l . App. 
3d 
a t 
261, 
383 N.E.2d a t 748, 
22 
I l l . Dec. 
a t 
940. 
S i m i l a r l y , t h e A p p e l l a t e D i v i s i o n o f t h e New 
Y o r k Supreme 
C o u r t has 
h e l d 
t h a t 
" t h e 
'Dram 
Shop' 
s t a t u t e s 
do 
n o t 
a u t h o r i z e 
any 
r e c o v e r y by a b e n e f a c t o r 
who makes w h o l l y 
g r a t u i t o u s 
p a y m e n t s 
t o 
t h e 
h e a l t h 
c a r e 
p r o v i d e r s 
who 
f u r n i s h 
m e d i c a l 
s e r v i c e s t o a p e r s o n 
i n j u r e d as 
t h e 
r e s u l t 
o f 
i n t o x i c a t i o n . 
A 
p e r s o n 
m a k i n g 
s u c h 
g r a t u i t o u s 
p a y m e n t s , 
as 
o p p o s e d 
t o , 
f o r e x a m p l e , 
l e n d i n g 
t h e 
money t o t h e 
i n j u r e d p e r s o n , 
i n f l i c t s e c o n o m i c harm 
upon h i m s e l f o r h e r s e l f , and c a n n o t be c o n s i d e r e d 
as 
h a v i n g b e e n i n j u r e d i n h i s o r h e r 
' p e r s o n , 
p r o p e r t y , 
o r means o f 
s u p p o r t . ' " 
Dunphy v. 
J & I S p o r t s 
E n t e r s . , 
I n c . , 
297 A.D.2d 23, 
2 5 - 2 6 , 
748 
N.Y.S.2d 
595, 
598 
(N.Y. 
App. 
D i v . 
2 0 0 2 ) . 
The 
c o u r t 
f u r t h e r 
h e l d : 
11 
1071128 
" T h e r e 
i s no common-law 
r i g h t o f 
r e c o v e r y 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f a p a r e n t who 
p a y s t h e m e d i c a l e x p e n s e s 
o f 
an 
a d u l t 
c h i l d , 
e v e n when t h e 
c h i l d 
l i v e s 
i n 
t h e 
p a r e n t ' s home. 
I n 
New 
Y o r k , 
a 
p a r e n t ' s 
r i g h t 
t o 
r e c o v e r f o r m e d i c a l e x p e n s e s i n c u r r e d by a c h i l d i s 
g r o u n d e d upon t h e p a r e n t ' s 
o b l i g a t i o n t o s u p p o r t 
a 
m i n o r 
c h i l d . " 
Dunphy, 
2 
97 A.D.2d 
a t 
2 
6, 
748 
N.Y.S.2d 
a t 
598 
( c i t a t i o n s 
o m i t t e d ) 
( d i s t i n g u i s h i n g Ray 
v. G a l l o w a y ' s 
C a f e , 
221 A.D.2d 
612, 
634 
N.Y.S.2d 
495 
(N.Y. 
App. 
D i v . 
1 9 9 5 ) , 
i n w h i c h 
t h e 
c o u r t 
h e l d 
t h a t 
p a r e n t s 
may 
be 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
r e c o v e r 
a c t u a l 
damages f o r m e d i c a l e x p e n s e s u n d e r New 
Y o r k ' s Dram Shop A c t , 
on t h e g r o u n d 
t h a t t h e p a r e n t s o f t h e i n j u r e d c h i l d i n Ray 
had 
a l e g a l o b l i g a t i o n t o p a y 
f o r h i s m e d i c a l 
c a r e ) . 
To 
s u p p o r t 
h e r 
p o s i t i o n 
t h a t 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s 
f o r 
an 
a d u l t 
c h i l d 
s h o u l d 
c o n s t i t u t e 
an 
i n j u r y 
t o 
t h e 
p a r e n t ' s 
p r o p e r t y u n d e r t h e Dram Shop A c t , J o h n s o n r e l i e s on 
a p p a r e n t 
d i c t a i n C l y m e r v. W e b s t e r , 156 V t . 614, 
596 A.2d 
905 
( 1 9 9 1 ) , 
w h i c h 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
" [ a ] s i d e 
f r o m 
o u t - o f - p o c k e t 
m e d i c a l 
and 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s , 
[ t h e d e c e a s e d 
a d u l t 
c h i l d ' s ] p a r e n t s h a v e 
n o t t h e m s e l v e s b e e n i n j u r e d ' i n p e r s o n , p r o p e r t y o r means o f 
s u p p o r t ' w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e [Dram Shop A c t ] . " 156 
V t . 
a t 620, 
596 A.2d 
a t 909. 
However, i n C l y m e r , 
i t a p p e a r s 
t h a t 
t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s 
r u l i n g " t h a t l i m i t e d t h e damages r e c o v e r a b l e 
12 
1071128 
by 
p l a i n t i f f s 
' t o 
m e d i c a l 
and 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s 
and 
l o s t 
s e r v i c e s and g u i d a n c e , ' " 
s i m p l y was 
n o t c h a l l e n g e d on 
a p p e a l . 
C l y m e r , 
156 
V t . 
a t 
618 , 
596 
A.2d 
a t 
90 8. 
See 
Thompson 
v. 
 
Dewey's S o u t h R o y a l t o n , I n c . , 169 V t . 274, 
279, 
733 A.2d 
65, 
69 
(1999) 
( s t a t i n g t h a t " [ a ] more a c c u r a t e r e a d i n g o f C l y m e r 
r e v e a l s t h a t we s i m p l y d i d n o t a d d r e s s w h e t h e r t h e p a r e n t s 
had 
a d i r e c t c a u s e o f a c t i o n u n d e r t h e [Dram Shop A c t ] . G i v e n 
t h e 
f o c u s o f o u r o p i n i o n , t h e n , t h e more r e a s o n a b l e 
i n f e r e n c e t o 
be drawn f r o m C l y m e r i s t h a t t h e p a r e n t s were n o t i n j u r e d ' i n 
p e r s o n , 
p r o p e r t y o r means o f s u p p o r t ' 
as 
a 
r e s u l t 
o f 
t h e i r 
[ a d u l t 
c h i l d ' s ] 
d e a t h . " ) . 
I n any 
e v e n t , 
t o t h e e x t e n t 
t h a t 
C l y m e r 
may 
have 
h e l d 
t h a t 
a p a r e n t ' s 
payment 
o f 
an 
a d u l t 
c h i l d ' s 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s 
i s 
an 
i n j u r y 
t o 
t h a t 
p a r e n t ' s 
p r o p e r t y u n d e r V e r m o n t ' s Dram Shop A c t , we 
d e c l i n e t o 
f o l l o w 
t h a t h o l d i n g . 
T h i s C o u r t now 
a d o p t s 
t h e r u l e t h a t a p a r e n t ' s v o l u n t a r y 
payment 
o f 
an 
a d u l t 
c h i l d ' s 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s 
d o e s 
n o t 
c o n s t i t u t e an 
i n j u r y t o t h e p a r e n t ' s p r o p e r t y i n t h e 
c o n t e x t 
o f 
t h e Dram Shop A c t . 
I n t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e , J o h n s o n was 
n o t 
l e g a l l y 
o b l i g a t e d t o p a y 
Oden's 
f u n e r a l 
e x p e n s e s 
u n t i l 
she 
v o l u n t a r i l y assumed t h a t 
f i n a n c i a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
a f t e r 
h i s 
13 
1071128 
d e a t h . 
J o h n s o n ' s 
a s s e t s were n o t i n v o l u n t a r y i m p a i r e d b y 
Oden's i n t o x i c a t i o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , she d i d 
n o t s u f f e r an i n j u r y 
t o h e r p r o p e r t y u n d e r t h e Dram Shop A c t . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t p r o p e r l y e n t e r e d a summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f 
B r u n s w i c k as t o t h i s 
c l a i m . 
N e x t , as a q u e s t i o n o f f i r s t 
i m p r e s s i o n f o r t h i s 
C o u r t , 
J o h n s o n 
a r g u e s 
t h a t t h e m e n t a l 
a n g u i s h 
s h e s u f f e r e d as a 
r e s u l t o f t h e l o s s o f h e r s o n c o n s t i t u t e d an i n j u r y t o 
h e r 
p e r s o n i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e Dram Shop A c t . 
We 
d i s a g r e e . 
A l a b a m a ' s Dram Shop A c t c r e a t e d a new c a u s e o f a c t i o n 
t h a t d i d 
n o t e x i s t a t common l a w r e l a t i n g t o t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s 
o f d i s p e n s i n g 
i n t o x i c a t i n g 
l i q u o r . 
J o n e s v . BP O i l Co., 632 
So. 2d 4 3 5 , 438 ( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . 
As n o t e d 
e a r l i e r , 
t h i s C o u r t h a s 
h e l d t h a t A l a b a m a ' s Dram Shop A c t 
i s 
p e n a l i n 
n a t u r e . M c I s a a c , 
587 So. 2d a t 324. We h a v e a l s o h e l d t h a t " [ i ] t i s a x i o m a t i c 
t h a t p e n a l 
s t a t u t e s a r e t o be s t r i c t l y 
c o n s t r u e d i n f a v o r o f 
t h e p e r s o n s s o u g h t t o be s u b j e c t e d t o t h e i r o p e r a t i o n . " 
S t a t e  
ex r e l . G r a d d i c k v . J e b s e n S. (U.K.) L t d . , 377 So. 2d 940, 
942 
( A l a . 
1 9 7 9 ) . 
F u r t h e r m o r e , 
" s t a t u t o r y r e m e d i e s f o r r i g h t s 
unknown t o t h e common l a w a r e t o be 
s t r i c t l y 
c o n s t r u e d . " 
14 
1071128 
W e s t e n h a v e r v. D u n n a v a n t , 225 A l a . 400, 
401, 
143 
So. 
823, 
823 
( 1 9 3 2 ) . 
I n t h e 
v a s t 
m a j o r i t y o f 
o t h e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n s , where 
t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e 
has 
l i m i t e d 
r e c o v e r y 
u n d e r 
a 
s t a t e ' s d r a m - s h o p 
a c t , by i t s t e r m s , t o i n j u r y " i n p e r s o n , p r o p e r t y , o r means o f 
s u p p o r t , " 
as 
i s t h e 
c a s e 
i n A l a b a m a , 
t h e 
r u l e 
i s t h a t 
no 
r e c o v e r y 
f o r m e n t a l a n g u i s h 
i s a l l o w e d .
1 
F o r e x a m p l e , 
c i t i n g 
a u t h o r i t y 
f r o m 
o t h e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n s , 
t h e 
U t a h Supreme 
C o u r t 
r e c o g n i z e d 
t h a t m e n t a l a n g u i s h 
s u f f e r e d by 
t h e p a r e n t s 
o f 
a 
c h i l d who 
was 
k i l l e d by a d r u n k d r i v e r was 
n o t 
an 
" i n j u r y 
i n 
p e r s o n " 
c o m p e n s a b l e u n d e r U t a h ' s Dram Shop A c t : 
"The 
r u l e t h a t 
' i n j u r i e s i n p e r s o n ' means ' p h y s i c a l 
b o d i l y 
i n j u r i e s ' 
and 
n o t 
m e n t a l 
o r 
e m o t i o n a l 
i n j u r i e s 
i s w i d e l y r e c o g n i z e d . 
See 
K n i e r i m v. 
I z z o , 
22 
I l l . 
2d 
73, 
174 N.E.2d 157, 
161 
(1961) 
( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
m e n t a l 
s u f f e r i n g 
r e s u l t i n g 
i n 
no 
p h y s i c a l 
i n j u r y i s n o t an 
i n j u r y i n p e r s o n and 
t h e r e f o r e 
n o t 
r e c o v e r a b l e u n d e r Dramshop A c t i n a c t i o n b r o u g h t 
by 
w i f e 
f o l l o w i n g 
d e a t h 
o f 
h u s b a n d ) ; 
R o b e r t s o n 
v. 
 
W h i t e , 
11 
I l l . 
App. 
2d 
177 , 136 
N.E.2d 
550, 
554 
(1956) 
( h o l d i n g t h a t 
e m o t i o n a l 
p a i n 
and 
s u f f e r i n g 
a r e 
n o t 
c o m p e n s a b l e 
i n j u r i e s 
u n d e r Dramshop A c t ) ; 
S t a t e Farm Mut. 
A u t o . 
I n s . 
Co. 
v. 
I s l e , 
265 
M i n n . 
360 , 122 
N.W.2d 
36, 
41 
(1963) 
( s t a t i n g 
w i f e 
n o t 
1On 
t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n j u r i s d i c t i o n s where t h e d r a m - s h o p 
a c t 
i s w o r d e d 
so 
as 
t o 
a l l o w 
r e c o v e r y 
f o r 
an 
i n j u r y 
" i n 
p e r s o n , p r o p e r t y , means o f s u p p o r t , o r o t h e r w i s e , " damages f o r 
m e n t a l a n g u i s h 
may 
be 
r e c o v e r e d . 
See, 
e.g., 
W i n j e v. 
C a v a l r y  
V e t e r a n s 
o f S y r a c u s e , 
I n c . , 130 M i s c . 2d 580, 
497 N.Y.S.2d 
291 
(N.Y. 
Sup. 
C t . 
1 9 8 5 ) . 
15 
1071128 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
damages 
f o r 
i n j u r y 
t o 
p e r s o n 
u n d e r 
Dramshop A c t b a s e d on h e r m e n t a l s u f f e r i n g where she 
d i d 
n o t s u s t a i n a c c o m p a n y i n g 
p h y s i c a l i n j u r y ) ; 
L y o n s 
 
v. 
T i e d e m a n n , 
135 
A.D.2d 
509, 
522 
N.Y.S.2d 
159, 
160-61 (1987) 
( s t a t i n g 
p l a i n t i f f s 
c o u l d n o t r e c o v e r 
f o r 
c o n s c i o u s p a i n and 
s u f f e r i n g and w r o n g f u l d e a t h 
u n d e r Dramshop A c t ) . See g e n e r a l l y G e o r g e A. 
L o c k e , 
A n n o t a t i o n , R e c o v e r y U n d e r C i v i l Damage (Dram-Shop)  
A c t 
f o r 
I n t a n g i b l e s 
s u c h 
as 
M e n t a l 
A n g u i s h , 
 
E m b a r r a s s m e n t , L o s s o f A f f e c t i o n 
o r 
C o m p a n i o n s h i p , 
 
o r 
t h e 
L i k e , 
78 A . L . R . 3 d 
1199 
( 1 9 7 7 ) ; A n n o t a t i o n , 
What 
C o n s t i t u t e s 
' I n j u r y 
i n 
P e r s o n 
o r 
P r o p e r t y '  
W i t h i n 
C i v i l Damage o r Dramshop A c t , 6 A . L . R . 2 d 
798 
(19 
4 
9 ) . " 
A d k i n s v. U n c l e B a r t ' s , I n c . , 1 P.3d 
528, 
534 
( U t a h 
2 0 0 0 ) . 
I n 
t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , 
t h i s 
C o u r t must 
s t r i c t l y 
c o n s t r u e 
t h e 
l a n g u a g e 
o f A l a b a m a ' s Dram Shop A c t and n o t e n l a r g e i t s 
l e g i s l a t i v e l y 
c r e a t e d r e m e d i e s b e y o n d t h o s e t h e 
l e g i s l a t u r e 
has 
a l l o w e d . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
we 
a d o p t 
t h e 
w i d e l y 
a c c e p t e d 
g e n e r a l 
r u l e 
t h a t 
m e n t a l 
a n g u i s h 
d o e s 
n o t 
c o n s t i t u t e 
an 
" i n j u r y i n p e r s o n " i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e Dram Shop A c t . 
To 
h o l d o t h e r w i s e w o u l d u s u r p t h e f u n c t i o n o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e 
and 
i g n o r e t h e w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d p r i n c i p l e o f 
s t r i c t l y 
c o n s t r u i n g 
s t a t u t e s t h a t a r e p e n a l i n c h a r a c t e r i n f a v o r o f t h e 
p e r s o n s 
s o u g h t t o be s u b j e c t e d t o t h e i r o p e r a t i o n . 
F u r t h e r m o r e , we 
do 
n o t n e e d t o d e c i d e a t t h i s t i m e w h e t h e r 
an e x c e p t i o n t o 
t h i s 
g e n e r a l r u l e e x i s t s when t h e p a r t y s e e k i n g damages f o r m e n t a l 
a n g u i s h a l s o s u f f e r s a p h y s i c a l b o d i l y i n j u r y b e c a u s e 
J o h n s o n 
16 
1071128 
has 
n o t 
a l l e g e d 
a n y 
s u c h 
i n j u r y 
i n t h e 
p r e s e n t 
c a s e . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e m e n t a l a n g u i s h J o h n s o n 
a l l e g e s 
r e s u l t e d 
f r o m 
t h e 
l o s s o f h e r s o n d o e s n o t c o n s t i t u t e an 
i n j u r y 
t o h e r 
p e r s o n i n t h e c o n t e x t 
o f t h e Dram Shop A c t ; t h u s , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
p r o p e r l y 
e n t e r e d 
a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
B r u n s w i c k on t h i s 
c l a i m . 
F i n a l l y , 
J o h n s o n 
a l l e g e s 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d i n 
e n t e r i n g a summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f B r u n s w i c k on h e r c l a i m 
a l l e g i n g t h e n e g l i g e n t h i r i n g , t r a i n i n g , a n d / o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f 
e m p l o y e e s . 
B r u n s w i c k r e s p o n d s t h a t t h e summary j u d g m e n t was 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
b e c a u s e , i t 
s a y s , J o h n s o n ' s c l a i m i s i n r e a l i t y a 
c l a i m 
a l l e g i n g t h e n e g l i g e n t 
d i s p e n s i n g 
o f a l c o h o l , a 
c l a i m 
A l a b a m a does n o t r e c o g n i z e . 
J o h n s o n r e p l i e s t h a t h e r c l a i m i s 
n o t 
a c l a i m 
b a s e d on t h e n e g l i g e n t 
d i s p e n s i n g 
o f a l c o h o l . 
I n s t e a d , 
J o h n s o n a l l e g e s t h a t 
" [ t ] h e n e g l i g e n t 
c o n d u c t w h i c h 
[she] 
a l l e g e s 
i s [ B r u n s w i c k ' s ] 
c o n d u c t 
i n 
h i r i n g / t r a i n i n g 
a n d / o r s u p e r v i s i n g i t s e m p l o y e e s i n c a r r y i n g o u t d u t i e s w h i c h 
a r e 
r e q u i r e d 
b y 
s t a t u t e 
and i m p o s e d by t h e many 
w r i t t e n 
p o l i c i e s w h i c h [ B r u n s w i c k ' s ] e m p l o y e e s i g n o r e d i n t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e . " J o h n s o n ' s b r i e f , a t 24. 
17 
1071128 
I t i s w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t "Alabama does n o t r e c o g n i z e 
a common l a w c a u s e o f a c t i o n f o r 
n e g l i g e n c e i n 
t h e dram 
shop 
c o n t e x t . " J a c k s o n v . A z a l e a C i t y R a c i n g C l u b , I n c . , 553 So. 
2d 
112, 113 ( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) . 
" [ T ] h i s j u r i s d i c t i o n , 
l i k e t h e m a j o r i t y 
o f 
j u r i s d i c t i o n s i n o u r n a t i o n , does n o t r e c o g n i z e a common 
l a w 
c a u s e 
o f a c t i o n 
f o r n e g l i g e n c e i n t h e d i s p e n s i n g o f 
a l c o h o l . " Ward v . R h o d e s , Hammonds & B e c k , 
I n c . , 511 So. 2d 
159, 
164-65 
( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) . 
The Dram Shop A c t p r o v i d e s t h e 
e x c l u s i v e remedy f o r t h e u n l a w f u l d i s p e n s i n g o f a l c o h o l t o 
an 
a d u l t . W i l l i a m s v . R e a s o n e r , 668 So. 2d 5 4 1 , 
542 ( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . 
T h i s 
l o n g - s t a n d i n g 
r e f u s a l t o r e c o g n i z e an a c t i o n b a s e d on 
n e g l i g e n c e i n 
t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f a l c o h o l a p p e a r s t o 
be b a s e d , 
a t 
l e a s t i n 
p a r t , on t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t 
" i t i s 
t h e c o n s u m p t i o n 
o f 
a l c o h o l -- n o t t h e p u r c h a s e o f i t -- t h a t i s 
t h e p r o x i m a t e 
c a u s e 
o f 
i n j u r i e s 
r e s u l t i n g 
f r o m 
t h e 
p u r c h a s e r ' s 
i n t o x i c a t i o n . " J o n e s , 632 So. 2d a t 438. Of c o u r s e , as w i t h 
o t h e r n e g l i g e n c e - b a s e d c l a i m s , a p l a i n t i f f p u r s u i n g a c l a i m o f 
n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , 
t r a i n i n g , 
a n d / o r 
s u p e r v i s i o n o f e m p l o y e e s 
must 
e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t 
t h e e m p l o y e e s ' 
i n c o m p e t e n c y 
was t h e 
p r o x i m a t e 
c a u s e 
o f t h e a l l e g e d 
i n j u r y . 
See H a t h c o c k 
v .  
M i t c h e l l , 
277 A l a . 
58 
6, 
5 9 5 , 173 So. 2d 57 
6, 
584 
(1965) 
18 
1071128 
( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
" t h e m a s t e r i s n o t 
l i a b l e 
f o r h a v i n g 
e m p l o y e d 
i n c o m p e t e n t 
s e r v a n t s 
u n l e s s 
t h e i r 
i n c o m p e t e n c y 
was 
t h e 
p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o f t h e 
i n j u r y " ) . 
I n t h e 
p r e s e n t 
c a s e , J o h n s o n r e c o g n i z e s 
t h a t 
she 
c a n n o t 
p u r s u e a c l a i m o f n e g l i g e n t d i s p e n s i n g 
o f a l c o h o l o u t s i d e 
t h e 
Dram 
Shop 
A c t . 
I n s t e a d , 
she 
a l l e g e s 
t h a t 
h e r 
c l a i m 
i s 
" c l e a r l y " 
n o t 
a c l a i m 
a l l e g i n g t h e 
n e g l i g e n t 
d i s p e n s i n g 
o f 
a l c o h o l . J o h n s o n ' s b r i e f , 
a t 23. 
However, t h e m e r i t 
o f 
s u c h 
an a l l e g a t i o n i s u n t e n a b l e . 
C o n c e r n i n g t h i s c l a i m , J o h n s o n ' s 
c o m p l a i n t 
a l l e g e s t h a t B r u n s w i c k n e g l i g e n t l y h i r e d , t r a i n e d , 
a n d / o r 
s u p e r v i s e d 
i t s e m p l o y e e s 
" r e g a r d i n g 
s e r v i n g 
v i s i b l y 
i n t o x i c a t e d 
p a t r o n s 
w i t h 
a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s . " 
Such 
an 
a l l e g a t i o n 
s e e k s 
a remedy 
d i r e c t l y 
r e l a t e d 
t o 
t h e 
a l l e g e d 
u n l a w f u l 
d i s p e n s i n g 
o f 
a l c o h o l , 
and 
i t a t t e m p t s 
t o 
do 
so 
o u t s i d e t h e Dram Shop A c t , w h i c h t h i s C o u r t ' s p r i o r 
d e c i s i o n s 
do 
n o t 
a l l o w . 
F u r t h e r m o r e , 
J o h n s o n 
has 
f a i l e d 
t o 
p r e s e n t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t 
t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e 
o f 
h e r 
a l l e g e d i n j u r y was 
an a c t c o m m i t t e d by B r u n s w i c k t h a t i s 
o u t s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h e Dram Shop A c t , 
r a t h e r t h a n h e r 
s o n ' s 
a c t s 
o f c o n s u m i n g 
a l c o h o l 
and 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
d r i v i n g a m o t o r 
v e h i c l e . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
p r o p e r l y 
e n t e r e d 
a 
19 
1071128 
summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r 
o f B r u n s w i c k 
on J o h n s o n ' s 
c l a i m 
a l l e g i n g t h e n e g l i g e n t 
h i r i n g , t r a i n i n g , a n d / o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f 
e m p l o y e e s . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
a f f i r m s t h e summary 
j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f B r u n s w i c k . 
AFFIRMED. 
Cobb, C . J . , and L y o n s , 
W o o d a l l , 
S t u a r t , 
S m i t h , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , M u r d o c k , and Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
20