Court Opinion

ID: 9632364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 11:12:03.860834+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:47.017155
License: Public Domain

RONALD L. WALKER, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
According to Smith v. Merritt, 940 S.W.2d 602, 605 (Tex.1997), the sole remedy available to one claiming damages resulting from the providing of an alcoholic beverage, by a commercial provider, is legislatively created and contained in Chapter 2 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC). Chapter 2 provides, “the exclusive cause of action for providing an alcoholic beverage to a person 18 years of age or older.” Tex. Axgo. Bev.Code Ann. § 2.03 (Vernon 1995).
The present law in Texas provides liability “against commercial providers only.” Smith v. Merritt, 940 S.W.2d at 605. As yet, the Legislature nor our Texas Supreme Court has expanded the “commercial provider” concept to include our present fact situation (minor to minor), and I am most reluctant to pioneer that effort. I would affirm the trial court’s summary judgment in tato. Respectfully, I dissent.