Court Opinion

ID: 9572205
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:39:35.431131+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:31:54.841676
License: Public Domain

*157NEWMAN, J.
I concur as to the first cause of action, but dissent as to the holding that the second cause of action fails to survive a demurrer. Business and Professions Code section 25602 protects people from “Every person who .. . furnishes ... or causes to be ... furnished .. . any alcoholic beverage ... to any obviously intoxicated person ....” I agree with the majority that the words “furnishes” and “furnished” imply an affirmative act and could include the serving of alcohol to Williams, as alleged in the first cause of action. I do not agree that the encouraging of Williams’ drinking, as alleged in the second cause, should never be included or that individuals who allegedly “participated and encouraged” an obviously intoxicated person’s drinking should never be counted among those who caused the alcoholic beverage “to be ... furnished.”
Thus I believe that the second cause of action is sufficient to withstand demurrer.
CLARK, J.
I am unable to join my colleagues in charging the host for the behavior of his guest. For the reasons so clearly written in Borer v. American Airlines, Inc. (1977) 19 Cal.3d 441, 446-447 [138 Cal.Rptr. 302, 563 P.2d 858], Cole v. Rush (1955) 45 Cal.2d 345 [289 P.2d 450, 54 A.L.R.2d 1137], and Ewing v. Cloverleaf Bowl (1978) 20 Cal.3d 389, 408-412 [143 Cal.Rptr. 13, 572 P.2d 1155] (dis.opn.), the majority is incorrect in creating its new cause of action.1

Yes, Virginia, our bag may truly have no bottom. (Church, Is There A Santa Claus?, Editorial, The New York Sun (21 Sept. 1897).)