Jenkins v. Krivosh

39 Pa. D. & C.5th 396
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County
DecidedJuly 16, 2014
DocketNo. 11212 of 2012
StatusPublished

This text of 39 Pa. D. & C.5th 396 (Jenkins v. Krivosh) 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
Jenkins v. Krivosh, 39 Pa. D. & C.5th 396 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).

Opinion

COX, J.,

Before the court for disposition is the motion for summary judgment filed on behalf of the defendant Heron’s Landing, LLC, t/d/b/a Olde Stonewall Golf Club (hereinafter “Heron’s Landing”), which argues that the plaintiffs have failed to present evidence to create a question of fact that employees of Heron’s Landing served alcohol to defendant John Krivosh when he was visibly intoxicated. Heron’s Landing also contends that the plaintiffs should not be provided with additional time to procure a toxicology expert as that, by itself, is not sufficient evidence to permit the plaintiffs’ claim to survive summary judgment.

On December 31, 2011, defendant John Krivosh left his residence at approximately 8:00 a.m. and traveled with friends to search for campsites in Tidioute, Pennsylvania. They stopped for lunch at approximately 12:00 noon to eat lunch and defendant Krivosh drank one beer. He eventually returned home at approximately 4:00 p.m. defendant Krivosh then made arrangements to meet defendant Mary Frances Venn at Shakespeare’s Restaurant & Pub (hereinafter “Shakespeare’s Restaurant”), which is owned by Heron’s Landing, for drinks. Prior to going to the restaurant, defendant Krivosh drank two “gulps” of vodka directly from the bottle, which he estimated was [398]*398approximately eight ounces. He then placed the vodka bottle in his vehicle as he intended on consuming more of it later to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Defendant Venn arrived at Shakespeare’s Restaurant first between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. She ordered a vodka tonic with a twist of lime. Shortly thereafter, defendant Krivosh arrived and ordered himself and defendant Venn a vodka tonic. They were seated at the bar among 10 to 15 other patrons and began conversing when defendant Krivosh informed defendant Venn that he was terminating their relationship. Defendant Krivosh consumed his drink and ordered another vodka tonic. He drank half of the second vodka tonic before departing the restaurant. Defendant Krivosh left the restaurant first and was followed by defendant Venn. Both individuals drove separately in their own vehicles,1 but defendant Venn followed defendant Krivosh as, according to her deposition testimony, she did not know the route to return home. They eventually arrived at a traffic light. Once the light changed to green, defendant Krivosh sped away and defendant Venn temporarily lost sight of his vehicle. As defendant Krivosh was driving outside of defendant Venn’s view, defendant Krivosh attempted to navigate a curve in the. road, he crossed into the other lane of the roadway and struck a vehicle operated by plaintiff Elvin W. Jenkins, who was severely injured. Defendant Venn approached the site of the accident and she parked her vehicle behind defendant Krivosh’s truck. After the collision, defendant Krivosh exited his vehicle and approached the plaintiffs’ vehicle where he noticed that the driver, Mr. Jenkins, was trapped. Defendant Krivosh then returned to his vehicle and disposed of the vodka bottle by throwing it over the hillside. Michael Paul Allen [399]*399observed defendant Krivosh throw the vodka bottle over the hill and stated in his affidavit that defendant Krivosh could not walk straight. He also explained that defendant Krivosh had to hold onto his truck to stand up, his speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and he was obviously intoxicated.

Patrolman Jon W. Disher of the Ellwood City Police Department testified in his deposition that he responded to a communication informing him of an automobile accident and he arrived on the scene of the accident at 7:42 p.m. Upon arrival, officer Disher observed defendant Krivosh leaning on his vehicle in an attempt to balance himself. The officer approached defendant Krivosh and he observed that defendant Krivosh had glassy, bloodshot eyes, he was swaying in a circular motion and he emanated an odor of alcohol. Officer Disher began speaking with defendant Krivosh, who was attempting to keep his mouth closed in an effort to hide the odor of alcohol. The officer questioned defendant Krivosh concerning the bottle of vodka that he threw over the hillside, which defendant Krivosh denied. However, officer Matthew Liberatore, also from the Ellwood City Police Department, recovered a vodka bottle after the hillside was illuminated by the local fire department. Defendant Krivosh insisted that he did not drink from the bottle and only drank at Shakespeare’s Restaurant. At that time, officer Disher administered field sobriety tests to defendant Krivosh. The first field sobriety test administered was the horizontal gaze nystagmus, which consists of the police officer holding a pen in front of the potentially intoxicated person and moving it to the right and left side. Upon performing this test, defendant Krivosh’s eyes did not track the pen and jumped from one position to the other, which indicated that he had a blood alcohol content over .10 percent. Next, officer Disher [400]*400administered the walk and turn test, in which defendant Krivosh was instructed to walk nine steps forward with his heel placed just in front of the toes of his opposite foot, turn around and then walk nine more steps in that manner. Defendant Krivosh failed on the first nine steps and had one misstep on the second nine steps. According to the police report, officer Disher also administered a portable breath test, which indicated that defendant Krivosh’s blood alcohol content was .09 percent. Officer Disher then placed defendant Krivosh under arrest and transported him to Ellwood City Hospital to undergo a blood test to determine his blood alcohol content. Officer Disher testified that, upon first approaching defendant Krivosh, it was apparent to any reasonable person that he was intoxicated.

On October 16, 2012, the plaintiffs filed suit seeking damages against defendant Krivosh, defendant Venn and Heron’s Landing. The claims against Heron’s Landing are based upon alleged violations of the Dram Shop Act. On November 20, 2012, defendants Krivosh and Venn filed preliminary objections to complaint, which were overruled in part and sustained in part by opinion and order of court issued by the Honorable Eugene E. Fike, senior judge, dated May 7, 2013. In the interim, Heron’s Landing filed its answer, new matter and crossclaims on February 28, 2013. The plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint on May 14, 2013, to which Heron’s Landing filed an answer, new matter and crossclaim to the plaintiffs’ amended complaint on June 18,2013. Eventually, Heron’s Landing filed the current motion for summary judgment on January 17, 2014, which argues that the plaintiffs have failed to present evidence to create a question of fact that employees of Heron’s Landing served alcohol to defendant Krivosh when he was visibly intoxicated [401]*401and the plaintiffs should not be provided with additional time to procure a toxicology expert as that, by itself, is not sufficient evidence to permit the plaintiffs’ claim to survive summary judgment. The plaintiffs have filed the expert report of Karl E. Williams, MD, MPH, on May 15, 2014, with their brief in answer to defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Therefore, the court no longer has to address that issue as the plaintiffs do not need further time to procure an expert report.

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 the relevant discovery has been completed. Miller v. Sacred Heart Hospital, 753 A.2d 829 (Pa. Super. 2000).

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Bluebook (online)
39 Pa. D. & C.5th 396, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jenkins-v-krivosh-pactcompllawren-2014.