Opinion ID: 1699909
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: GARDNER v OAK MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Text: Plaintiffs filed a wrongful death action against defendant, Oak Management Company, alleging that it was negligent or grossly negligent in serving large quantities of intoxicating beverages to Willis Dalvin Wood, Jr., and that the serving of alcohol to Wood was a proximate cause of plaintiffs' decedent's death. Oak Management Company, doing business as Fuller Oaks Corporation, is the management agent for the Addison Oaks Banquet Facility in Oxford, Michigan. Addison Oaks is a park owned by Oakland County located in Addison Township. Fuller Oaks rents the rooms and gardens of the facility to the public for parties and receptions. It also provides services and menus. Neither Fuller Oaks nor Oakland County has a liquor license for the premises, nor do they sell liquor upon the premises. On June 6, 1982, Fuller Oaks rented the facility to Douglas Maxwell and Mickey Donovan [2] for a wedding reception. Pursuant to the contract, Fuller Oaks provided food and bar service which included setups, napkins, condiments, and soft drinks. The wedding party supplied their own alcoholic beverages, while Fuller Oaks employees acted as bartenders at the reception. Plaintiffs allege that Fuller Oaks negligently served intoxicating beverages to Wood, a guest at the party, while he was visibly intoxicated. Wood left the reception in his automobile, allegedly in an intoxicated condition, crossed the centerline of the road and struck plaintiffs' decedent. Plaintiffs based their negligence claim against Fuller Oaks upon an alleged violation of MCL 436.26c(2); MSA 18.997(3)(2), hereafter referred to by its popular title, the bottle club act. Plaintiffs do not claim that the defendant is subject to the dramshop provision. [3] In denying defendant's motion for summary disposition, the trial court held that a violation of the act could give rise to a valid cause of action. From the Court of Appeals affirmance of this decision, we granted leave to appeal.