Court Opinion

ID: 9629938
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:53:50.139152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:27.556727
License: Public Domain

HOWARD, Judge
(specially concurring) .
I concur with the result in this case because there was absolutely no showing that *60Bowan’s intoxication was the proximate cause of the assault. For all we know, Bowan might have been a barroom fighter even when sober. I find myself, however, unable to agree that a “dramshop” law is a predicate to liability. I recognize that Collier v. Stamatis, 63 Ariz. 285, 162 P.2d 125 (1945), may militate against my position but I am of the opinion that Collier v. Stamatis, supra, is distinguishable. In Vallentine v. Azar, 8 Ariz.App. 247, 445 P.2d 449 (1968), we followed Collier v. Stamatis, supra, recognizing that we have no authority to overrule a higher court. We stated in that case:
“While we may agree with the plaintiff’s contention that there should be some remedy, other than the threat of loss of license or criminal prosecution, against a liquor licensee who wantonly sells to minors, we feel that it is for our Supreme Court or the legislature to change the present law.”
Both Collier v. Stamatis, supra, and Vallentine v. Azar, supra, deal with the sale of intoxicating beverages to a minor and are not really on point. In Collier, the court held that the violation of the statute making it a misdemeanor to sell intoxicating liquor to a minor could not constitute negligence per se since the statute was not enacted for the public safety. The statute involved in the case at bench is A.R.S. § 4 — 244(14) which states that it'is unlawful “[f]or a licensee or other person to serve, sell or furnish spirituous liquor to an intoxicated or disorderly person, or for a licensee or employee of the licensee to allow or permit an intoxicated or disorderly person to come into or remain on or about his premises.” 1 Although there may be some disagreement as to whether the statute making it a misdemeanor to sell intoxicating liquor to a minor was enacted for the public safety, I have no doubt that A.R.S. § 4-244(14), as amended, was enacted to protect not only the intoxicated person but also the public, whether in or outside of the premises. I therefore believe that violation of the statute constitutes negligence per se and that the only question is whether or not the plaintiff’s injuries were proximately caused by the intoxication.
In recent years, we have seen a growing trend in other jurisdictions to find that sale by a bartender to an intoxicated person may be the proximate cause of injury to a third person resulting from a vehicular accident. In these cases liability is based either upon common law negligence principles or violation of a statute that is deemed negligence per se. See Waynick v. Chicago’s Last Department Store, 269 F.2d 322, 77 A.L.R.2d 1260 (7th Cir. 1959); Vesely v. Sager, 5 Cal.3d 153, 95 Cal.Rptr. 623, 486 P.2d 151 (1971) ; Colligan v. Cousar, 38 Ill.App.2d 392, 187 N.E.2d 292 (1963); Adamian v. Three Sons, Inc., 353 Mass. 498, 233 N.E.2d 18 (1968) ; Rappaport v. Nichols, 31 N.J. 188, 156 A.2d 1, 75 A.L.R.2d 821 (1959) , Berkeley v. Park, 47 Misc.2d 381, 262 N.Y.S.2d 290 (1965); Jardine v. Upper Darby Lodge No. 1973, Inc., 413 Pa. 626, 198 A.2d 550 (1964); Mitchell v. Ketner, 54 Tenn.App. 656, 393 S.W.2d 755 (1964).
In those cases which impose liability based on the common law, the courts state that ttnder modern day conditions it is foreseeable that a bar patron who is intoxicated will leave the bar in an automobile and, because of his intoxication, cause an automobile accident. To my mind, if one were to' adopt this theory rather than to consider violation of the statute as negligence per se,. it is equally foreseeable that intoxicated individuals are unpredictable and might injure themselves or others.2
On the issue of proximate cause, the question arises — which drink made the intoxi*61cated person act as he did, the first drink or the last drink? The answer is that it is not necessary that the act of the bartender in serving an intoxicated person be the only proximate cause, it need only be a proximate cause. Another question that arises is whether or not the act of the person in drinking the alcoholic beverage or his negligent conduct, and, in this case his intentional act, is a superseding intervening cause thereby vitiating liability. To answer this question I would analogize to those cases where liability is imposed upon a person for negligently entrusting his automobile to a person who is obviously incompetent to drive it. The courts have no difficulty in imposing liability despite the superseding negligent act of the person driving the auto. The same is true as to intervening intentional or criminal acts which the defendant might reasonably anticipate. Vesely v. Sager, supra; Prosser, Torts, 3rd Ed., pp. 313-314.
It appears to me that either the common-law negligence theory or the negligence per se theory should be available to an injured plaintiff. As I see it, A.R.S. § 4 — 244(14) places a duty upon bartenders and bar owners, violation of which constitutes negligence per se. I do not believe it would constitute an unreasonable burden upon licensees to have to respond in damages for violation of a law that has long been in existence. As so aptly stated in Rappaport v. Nichols, supra:
“Liquor licensees, who operate their businesses by way of privilege rather than as of right, have long been under strict obligation not to serve * * * intoxicated persons and if, as is likely, the result we have reached in the conscientious exercise of our traditional judicial function substantially increases their diligence in honoring that obligation then the public interest will indeed be very well served.” 156 A.2d at 10.

. Violation of the statute is a misdemeanor. A.R.S. § 4-246.

. It is unnecessary that the precise form of injury might have been foreseen. Salt River Valley Water Users’ Ass’n v. Cornum, 49 Ariz. 1, 63 P.2d 639 (1937).