Gamble v. Neonatal Associates, P.A.

688 So. 2d 878, 1997 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 120, 1997 WL 61470
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Alabama
DecidedFebruary 14, 1997
Docket2951529
StatusPublished

This text of 688 So. 2d 878 (Gamble v. Neonatal Associates, P.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gamble v. Neonatal Associates, P.A., 688 So. 2d 878, 1997 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 120, 1997 WL 61470 (Ala. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

MONROE, Judge.

The plaintiff appeals from summary judgments entered for the defendants on the plaintiffs claims brought under the Dram Shop Act.

The undisputed facts are as follows: On December 10, 1993, Neonatal Associates, P.A., held its annual cocktail buffet at the home of Dr. John Woodall, one of its shareholders. Most of those invited to the party were business clients and associates of Neonatal Associates. The guests were not charged admission to the party and were not asked or required to purchase any alcoholic beverages at the party. The hosts provided alcoholic beverages, which had been purchased by Dr. Woodall’s spouse at the American Armed Forces Exchange Class Six facility at Maxwell Air Force Base. The quantity of alcohol possessed exceeded the amount of alcohol purchased at a military store that is authorized to be possessed under § 28-1-3.1, Ala.Code 1975. Shashy’s Fine Foods catered the party, and is alleged to have also provided bartenders. For purposes of this appeal only, Shashy’s does not dispute the plaintiffs allegation that it provided bartenders. However, it is undisputed that Shashy’s did not possess a liquor license.

One of the guests was Albert Scott Dowe, who was provided alcoholic beverages at the party. Soon after Dowe left the party in his automobile, his vehicle collided with the rear of the plaintiffs automobile, which was stopped at a traffic light. Dowe failed a field sobriety test, and another test revealed his blood alcohol level to be .167%. He was later convicted of driving under the influence.

The plaintiff sued Neonatal Associates, Dr. Rodney D. Dorand, and Dr. John B. Woodall, individually and as shareholders of Neonatal Associates, and Shashy’s Fine Foods, alleging liability under the Dram Shop Act. The trial court entered summary judgments for all defendants.

To enter a summary judgment, the trial court must determine that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c), Ala. R. Civ. P.; Bussey v. John Deere Co., 531 So.2d 860 (Ala.1988). Rule 56 is read in conjunction with the “substantial evidence rule,” § 12-21-12, Ala.Code 1975, for actions filed after June 11, 1987. See Bass v. SouthTrust Bank of Baldwin County, 538 So.2d 794, 797-98 (Ala.1989). To defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the nonmovant must present substantial evidence creating a genuine issue of material [880]*880facts; substantial evidence has been defined as “evidence of such weight and quality that fair-minded persons in the exercise of impartial judgment can reasonably infer the existence of the fact sought to be proved.” West v. Founders Life Assurance Co. of Florida, 547 So.2d 870, 871 (Ala.1989).

Section 6-5-71, Ala.Code 1975, commonly known as the “Dram Shop Act,” provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

“(a) Every wife, child, parent, or other person who shall be injured in person, property, or means of support by any intoxicated person or in consequence of the intoxication of any person shall have a right of action against any person who shall, by selling, giving, or otherwise disposing of to another, contrary to the provisions of law, any liquors or beverages, cause the intoxication of such person for all damages actually sustained, as well as exemplary damages.
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“(c) The party injured, or his legal representative, may commence a joint or separate action against the person intoxicated or the person who furnished the liquor, and all such claims shall be by civil action in any court having jurisdiction thereof.”

Initially, we note that our Supreme Court has repeatedly refused to hold a social host liable under the Dram Shop Act. See, e.g., Williams v. Reasoner, 668 So.2d 541 (Ala.1995); Smoyer v. Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, 517 So.2d 585 (Ala.1987); Beeson v. Scoles Cadillac Corp., 506 So.2d 999 (Ala.1987); and DeLoach v. Mayer Electric Supply Co., 378 So.2d 733 (Ala.1979). In fact, it appears that the Supreme Court has held a social host liable under the Dram Shop Act only when alcoholic beverages were provided to minors in contravention of law. Martin v. Watts, 513 So.2d 958 (Ala.1987).

The plaintiff argues that these defendants are liable under the Dram Shop Act because they sold, gave, or otherwise disposed of alcoholic beverages to Dowe, contrary to the provisions of law. The Alabama Supreme Court has held that:

“Section 6-5-71 creates a civil remedy against persons who, contrary to law, cause the intoxication of another by providing the other person with alcoholic beverages, when the plaintiff is injured because of the intoxication. The term which most narrowly limits this cause of action is the requirement that the providing of the alcoholic beverages be contrary to law.”

Martin v. Watts, 513 So.2d 958, 963 (Ala.1987) (emphasis in original).

The plaintiff first argues that the defendants provided alcoholic beverages contrary to law because they violated § 28-1-3.1, Ala.Code 1975, by possessing more than the allowed amount of alcoholic beverages purchased at a military store. The plaintiff argues that because the alcohol was illegally possessed, its distribution must also be illegal. We disagree. Providing the alcoholic beverages to Dowe does not violate § 28-1-3.1, even if the possession of the beverages does. See Smoyer v. Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, 517 So.2d 585 (Ala. 1987) (holding that, for purposes of creating liability under the Dram Shop Act, the Chamber of Commerce did not provide alcoholic beverages to the particular individual contrary to law, even though its selling of liquor without a license was illegal).

The plaintiff also argues that the defendants are liable under § 28-1-3.1 because the providing of alcoholic beverages constituted a “sale” under § 28-3-1(25), which defines “sale” as the providing of alcoholic beverages for a consideration. It is undisputed that the guests were admitted to the party and were provided alcoholic beverages free of charge. It is clear that the defendants did not sell alcoholic beverages at the party. This is true even if the guests attended the party in return for receiving food and beverages and even if the value and profits of the defendants’ businesses were enhanced by the party.

Another basis for the plaintiff's claim under the Dram Shop Act is that the defendants violated § 28-3A-25(a)(17), Ala.Code 1975, which makes it unlawful “[f]or any person to sell, give away, or otherwise dispose of taxable alcoholic beverages within this state on which the required taxes have not been paid as required by law.” However, the [881]*881defendants did not violate this statute, because the alcoholic beverages, having been purchased from a military store, were not required to be taxed by the state. As noted previously, the defendants violated § 28-1-3.1 because they possessed more than the allowed amount of alcoholic beverages purchased at military stores. However, the alcoholic beverages they possessed were not required to be taxed, so they did not violate § 28-3A-25(a)(17) as well.

In addition, we agree with the reasoning of the trial court that the purpose of §§ 28-1-3.1 and 28-3A-25(a)(17) is to raise revenue, and not to protect the general welfare.

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Related

Bass v. SOUTHTRUST BANK OF BALDWIN CTY.
538 So. 2d 794 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1989)
Smoyer v. BIRMINGHAM A. CHAMBER OF COM.
517 So. 2d 585 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1987)
Bussey v. John Deere Co.
531 So. 2d 860 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1988)
Parr v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
641 So. 2d 769 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1994)
Martin v. Watts
513 So. 2d 958 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1987)
Beeson v. Scoles Cadillac Corp.
506 So. 2d 999 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1987)
West v. Founders Life Assur. Co. of Florida
547 So. 2d 870 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1989)
DeLoach v. Mayer Elec. Supply Co.
378 So. 2d 733 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1979)
Lackey v. Healthamerica Alabama, L.P.
514 So. 2d 883 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1987)
Williams v. Reasoner
668 So. 2d 541 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
688 So. 2d 878, 1997 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 120, 1997 WL 61470, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gamble-v-neonatal-associates-pa-alacivapp-1997.