Schuenemann v. Dreemz, LLC

21 Pa. D. & C.5th 259
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedJanuary 28, 2011
Docketno. 2676
StatusPublished

This text of 21 Pa. D. & C.5th 259 (Schuenemann v. Dreemz, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schuenemann v. Dreemz, LLC, 21 Pa. D. & C.5th 259 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011).

Opinion

MESSIAH-JACKSON, J.,

I. INTRODUCTION and PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 14, 2010, following a week long trial, the jury concluded that Dreemz, LLC, a club in Philadelphia did serve alcohol to 23-year-old Brynne Schuenemann while she was visibly intoxicated in violation of Pennsylvania’s Dram Shop Act, 47 Pa. C.S. §4-493(1).

The plaintiff-estate of Brynne Schuenemann alleged [261]*261that on Saturday night, November 4, 2006, when Ms. Schuenemann and her friends were at Dreemz, the defendant’s bartenders and servers continued to furnish multiple alcoholic drinks to Ms. Schuenemann while she was increasingly and visibly intoxicated.

In the early hours of November 5, 2006, Ms. Schuenemann drove her automobile at a high rate of speed on Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia, and she struck a pole. Ms. Schuenemann was alive when the first responder arrived at the scene, however, she died within five to 15 minutes thereafter. The four other occupants of her motor vehicle were transported to hospitals for treatment of serious injuries.

The defense vigorously contested the claim that it caused any harm to Ms. Schuenemann. Defendant-Dreemz’ consistent position during the pre-trial and trial proceedings was that there was insufficient evidence that plaintiff-decedent was served alcohol while visibly intoxicated. The defense “theme” was that Brynne Schuenemann was a drunk driver who should have taken a taxi cab home that evening. May 14, 2010, N.T. 53, 64-67. The jury was asked to consider her comparative negligence pursuant to 75 Pa. C.S. §3802.

During the trial the jury heard from 14 witnesses addressing issues of liability and damages. On May 14,2010, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Estate of Brynne Schuenemann as follows: survival action, $1,485,199.00 and wrongful death action, $479,559.00. The total award for compensatory damages was $1,964,758.00. The jury also determined that the plaintiff-decedent was 49 percent comparatively negligent.

[262]*262Next, following a hearing on plaintiff’s claim for punitive damages, the jury concluded that the conduct of Dreemz, LLC was malicious, wanton, willful or oppressive, or showed reckless indifference to the interests of others. The jury awarded $0 for this claim.

After trial transcripts were received, a post-trial briefing schedule was set by counsel and the court. Oral argument was heard on November 10, 2010.

Defendant-Dreemz seeks a new trial because it disagrees with certain trial court rulings. The plaintiff-estate filed a motion for delay damages. For the reasons which follow, the post-trial motions filed by Dreemz, LLC are denied. The unopposed motion for delay damages filed by the Estate of Brynne Schuenemann is granted.

II. LEGAL DISCUSSION

A. The Jury’s Decision is Fully and Fairly Supported. By The Evidence

The Pennsylvania Dram Shop Act states in pertinent part at 47 Pa. C.S. §4-493(1):

It shall be unlawful -
(1) FURNISHING LIQUOR OR MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES TO CERTAIN PERSONS.
For any licensee or the board, or any employe, servant or agent of such licensee or of the board, or any other person, to sell, furnish or give any liquor or malt or brewed beverages, or to permit any liquor or malt or brewed beverages to be sold, furnished or given, to any person visibly intoxicated, or to any minor: Provided [263]*263further, that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no cause of action will exist against a licensee or the board or any employe, servant or agent of such licensee or the board for selling, furnishing or giving any liquor or malt or brewed beverages or permitting any liquor or malt or brewed beverages to be sold, furnished or given to any insane person, any habitual drunkard or person of known intemperate habits unless the person sold, furnished or given alcohol is visibly intoxicated or is a minor.

Section 4-493(1) applies to licensee liability for injuries to patrons such as Brynne Schuenemann.

The defendant argues that this statute acts as a “shield” of immunity for clubs such as Dreemz, unless customers exhibit signs of visible intoxication at the time they are served. Defendant’s post-trial memorandum, pages 12-13. The jury considered all of the circumstances of this case and chose to believe the uncontradicted testimony of eyewitness accounts of the events of November 4 and 5, 2006. The shield of immunity was pierced.

In order to sustain its burden of proof, plaintiff-estate had to prove not only that Ms. Schuenemann was served alcohol while she was visibly intoxicated, but also that the intoxication was the proximate cause of her harm, e.g. Holpp v. Fez, 665 A.2d 147 (Pa. Super. 1995); Reilly v. Tiergarten, Inc., 633 A.2d 208 (Pa. Super. 1993). It is well-settled in Pennsylvania that the bartender or server must not provide more alcohol to a patron when the signs of intoxication are visible. Civil liability is based on “... appearances rather than medical diagnosis.” Johnson v. Harris, 615 A.2d 771, 776 (Pa. Super. 1992). See also, [264]*264Hiles v. Brandywine Club, 662 A.2d 16 (Pa. Super. 1995), without evidence of visible intoxication the bar is not civilly liable pursuant to Section 4-493(1).

1. Brynne Schuenemann Was Served Alcohol By Dreemz While She Was Visibly Intoxicated.

The testimony and evidence from Jasmine Childs and Justin Witt was undisputed. Dreemz personnel would have observed that Brymie was repeatedly and frequently going to the main bar located at the front of the club. May 11, 2010, N.T. 121-124. She ordered and paid for drinks for herself and her friends. The Dreemz staff would have noticed that Ms. Schuenemann was stumbling, had slurred speech and was loud, as she continued to purchase more drinks. May 11, 2010, N.T. 129-130. The bartenders and servers would have seen that Ms. Schuenemann did not order any food and that she was stumbling and bumping into people as she returned again and again to the main bar that evening. May 11, 2010, N.T. 155-157.

If the staff had been monitoring the customers they would have been aware of the commotion when Ms. Schuenemann found a patron’s gold necklace, and then after receiving a reward, she announced, “All drinks are on me.” May 11, 2010, N.T. 125. As the evening progressed, Ms. Schuenemann was observed with glassy eyes and almost falling into the bar, “. . . barely getting there.” Her voice got louder and her manner and behavior became sloppy and sluggish as she continued to purchase alcoholic beverages. May 10, 2010, N.T. 158-160

In addition to direct evidence of visible intoxication while in the club, there was substantial circumstantial evi[265]*265dence that Ms. Schuenemann was served alcohol at a time she was visibly intoxicated. Here, as in Fandozzi v. Kelly Hotel, 711 A.2d 524, 527 (Pa. Super. 1998), Ms. Schuenemann drank alcohol at Dreemz for approximately four hours before she left at the 2:00 a.m. closing time.

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Bluebook (online)
21 Pa. D. & C.5th 259, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schuenemann-v-dreemz-llc-pactcomplphilad-2011.