City of Memphis Alcohol Commission v. Randall Memorial Free Will Baptist Church, Inc.

OPINION

COOPER, Chief Justice.

Harlon J. Fields and Fields, Incorporated, doing business as The Smoke House, filed a petition with the City of Memphis Alcohol Commission for a permit to sell beer for on-premises consumption. The commission, after a hearing, granted the permit. Randall Memorial Free Will Baptist Church, Inc., a protestant, filed a petition in the circuit court seeking to deny a beer permit to The Smoke House. On hearing evidence by oral testimony, and reviewing evidence heard by the Alcohol Commission, the trial judge concluded the sale of beer by The Smoke House would interfere…