Opinion ID: 1922811
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The effect of the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Constantineau

Text: In Wisconsin v. Constantineau [5] the Supreme Court of the United States declared the Wisconsin posting statute, sec. 176.26, unconstitutional as constituting a denial of procedural due process guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment. The statute provided that various persons could forbid in writing the sale or gift of intoxicating liquor to one who, by excessive drinking, exhibited described conditions or specified traits. Appellant contends that the United States Supreme Court decision in Constantineau requires re-examination of the questions decided in Garcia I. We think not. Appellant argues that in Farmers Mut. Automobile Ins. Co. v. Gast [6] this court held that the doctrine of common-law negligence per se for violation of the safety statute was not applicable because of legislative preemption of the field by the enactment of sec. 176.35, Stats., which provides for civil liability for any person who sells liquor to a minor or a person who has been posted, pursuant to sec. 176.26. Now that sec. 176.26 has been declared unconstitutional, appellant argues that sec. 176.35, by implication, also is invalid. Thus appellant concludes that since the statute held to be pre-emptive in Gast is now invalid there is no longer legislative pre-emption and the common-law rules of negligence per se should apply. Appellant is wrong on two points. First, she fails to recognize the policy determination made by this court in Garcia I. Second, Garcia I was not a case dealing with legislative pre-emption and was decided on policy grounds. The same result would follow here. We must conclude, therefore, that Constantineau in no way forms a basis for altering this court's opinion in Garcia I. The present court is identical to the court which divided four to three in Garcia I and no justice has changed his fundamental views on this matter as outlined in both the majority and dissenting opinions in that case. On this appeal the court is presented with what amounts to a replay of the matter and nothing new has been presented that would in any way alter this court's opinion in Garcia I. By the Court. Judgment affirmed.