Hinebaugh v. Pennsylvania Snowseekers Snowmobile Club

63 Pa. D. & C.4th 140, 2003 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 113
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County
DecidedAugust 14, 2003
Docketno. 11133 of 1996
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 63 Pa. D. & C.4th 140 (Hinebaugh v. Pennsylvania Snowseekers Snowmobile Club) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hinebaugh v. Pennsylvania Snowseekers Snowmobile Club, 63 Pa. D. & C.4th 140, 2003 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 113 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003).

Opinion

MOTTO, J.,

Before the court for disposition is the motion for summary judgment filed by the defendant. The defendant, the Pennsylvania Snowseekers Club, contends that as to Count I of the complaint, that as a matter of law, the defendant is not in violation of the Pennsylvania Dram Shop Act. It contends that it is not a licensed entity in accordance with the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, nor does any evidence exist that the plaintiff was visibly intoxicated; therefore, no issue of material fact exists and it cannot be found negligent per se. Defendant also contends as to Count II of the complaint, that as a matter of law, the defendant cannot be held liable under the common-law negligence theory of social host liability.

[142]*142Defendant filed its motion on February 28,2002 seeking summary judgment against plaintiff John W. Hinebaugh. The matter was given the date of May 28, 2002 for oral argument. On June 7, 2003, this court entered an order stating that defendant’s motion for summary judgment is denied because it was premature to determine that plaintiff cannot produce enough evidence that he was visibly intoxicated at the time he obtained alcoholic beverages from defendant’s social room. The parties were ordered to complete discovery by September 30, 2002.

On December 16, 2002, the defendant filed a supplemental motion for summary judgment. This court, by order dated April 2, 2002, found that the plaintiff must be given the opportunity to prove at trial the allegation of “visible intoxication” of plaintiff’s decedent, as such issue can be proved by circumstantial evidence. The defendant then filed a motion for reconsideration and clarification. The court granted reconsideration.

This case arises out of a snowmobile accident on the evening of January 7, 1995. The defendant is a duly incorporated nonprofit entity with a registered address in Ellwood City, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, with its stated chartered purpose being:

“To promote good fellowship and to promote the sport of snowmobiling activities and to exercise care and supervision over the operation and use of snowmobiles; to participate in games, not for profit, but conducive to physical and mental development and the amusement of its members and for the purpose of acquiring such property and other necessary equipment to be used for the furthering of the purposes of the corporation.”

[143]*143Plaintiff was at the defendant’s clubhouse to partake in various club-related activities. The defendant maintained a clubhouse which contains lodging room, a kitchen and a dining area, with various other facility rooms therein including a social room equipped with bar and its related accouterments. Per the defendant club’s bylaws, it had a standing committee therein referred to as the “bar committee,” to. which its officials or members sometimes refer as the “social room committee,” to operate the bar in said social room. .

Per the defendant club’s requirements to have the privilege of purchasing beverages at the bar in the social room, a person had to either be a regular member or social member of the club. The defendant required any person using the clubhouse facilities for any reason to become at least a social member; such person could then purchase a beverage at the bar. Payment of the purchase price for a beverage was accomplished via a punch-out card which a regular member or social member could obtain for a fee. The amount equal to the cost of the drink was punched out when a beverage was obtained from the bar. It is not disputed that the plaintiff consumed alcohol on the night in question.

At approximately 8:50 p.m., the plaintiff and other club members of the defendant departed the clubhouse to take a snowmobile ride. Approximately one-half mile from the clubhouse, the plaintiff, riding his own snowmobile, collided with a tree while riding the snowmobile. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff sustained serious personal injuries.

Plaintiff’s complaint consists of two counts. Count I alleges negligence per se against the defendant for the [144]*144sale of alcoholic beverages to the plaintiff when he was visibly intoxicated in violation of that portion of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code known as the Pennsylvania Dram Shop Act. Count II states a theory of common-law negligence in providing the plaintiff with alcoholic beverages as a social host.

The purpose of the summary judgment rule is to eliminate cases prior to trial where a party cannot make out a claim or defense after relevant discovery has been completed. Miller v. Sacred Heart Hospital, 753 A.2d 829 (Pa. Super. 2000). Summary judgment is proper when the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with any affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Kuney v. Benjamin Franklin Clinic, 751 A.2d 662 (Pa. Super. 2000); Stevens Painton Corporation v. First State Insurance Company, 746 A.2d 649 (Pa. Super. 2000).

Summary judgment may only be granted in cases where it is clear and free from doubt that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. The non-moving party must adduce sufficient evidence on issues essential to its case on which he bears the burden of proof such that a jury could return a verdict in its favor. Ertel v. Patriot-News Company, 544 Pa. 93, 647 A.2d 1038 (1996), reargument denied (1996), certiorari denied, 519 U.S. 1008, 117 S.Ct. 512, 136 L.Ed.2d 401 (1996). If there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute or if the non-moving party has failed to state a prima facie case, summary judgment may be granted. Dudley v. USX Corporation, 414 Pa. Super. 160, 606 A.2d [145]*145916 (1992), alloc. denied, 532 Pa. 663, 616 A.2d 985 (1992). Thus, a proper grant of summary judgment depends upon an evidentiary record that either (1) shows the material facts are undisputed or (2) contains insufficient evidence of facts to make out a prima facie cause of action or defense. Rauch v. Mike-Mayer, 783 A.2d 815 (Pa. Super. 2001).

The trial court must confine its inquiry when confronted with a motion for summary judgment to questions of whether material factual disputes exist. Township of Bensalem v. Moore, 152 Pa. Commw. 540, 620 A.2d 76 (1993). It is not the function of the court ruling on a motion for summary judgment to weigh evidence and to determine the truth of the matter. Keenheel v. Pennsylvania Securities Commission, 134 Pa. Commw. 494, 579 A.2d 1358 (1990). For summary judgment purposes, a “material fact” is one that directly affects the outcome of the case. Kuney v. Benjamin Franklin Clinic, 751 A.2d 662 (Pa. Super. 2000).

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Bluebook (online)
63 Pa. D. & C.4th 140, 2003 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 113, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hinebaugh-v-pennsylvania-snowseekers-snowmobile-club-pactcompllawren-2003.