Opinion ID: 1349846
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Manuel

Text: This Court has recognized that merchants may have a common-law duty to protect their patrons from the criminal acts of other patrons. Manuel v. Weitzman, 386 Mich. 157, 191 N.W.2d 474 (1971). In Manuel, Arthur Manuel was a customer in the defendant's bar. Id. at 160, 191 N.W.2d 474. He was attacked by another patron. Id. Manuel alleged that the defendant violated his common-law duty to maintain a safe premises for his business invitees and that the defendant violated the dramshop act. Id. at 161, 191 N.W.2d 474. The issue before us in Manuel was whether a common-law action for negligence can be joined with an action brought under the dramshop act. We concluded that it could, holding that the dramshop act afforded the exclusive remedy for injuries arising out of an unlawful sale of intoxicants. However, the dramshop continued to have a common-law duty to protect patrons from injury from another patron whom it permitted on the premises. Id. at 165-167, 191 N.W.2d 474 We noted in Manuel that the plaintiff introduced evidence showing that the defendant knew that the offending patron had engaged in a fight at the bar. Id. at 166, 191 N.W.2d 474. The defendant was aware that the bartenders took insufficient measures to eject the patron after he became disruptive. Id. at 166-167, 191 N.W.2d 474. When the patron attacked the plaintiff, the bartenders did not act immediately to protect him from injury. Id. at 167, 191 N.W.2d 474. Therefore, it was proper for the plaintiff to allege a dram shop action and a common law negligence action in separate counts. Id.