Davis v. Stapf

It is a criminal offense for an adult to knowingly or willfully allow an unrelated person under the age of 21 to consume alcohol for nonreligious purposes at a residence the adult owns or leases. Md.Code (2014 Supp.) § 10-117(b) of the Criminal Law Article (“CL”). The question raised in this case is whether a person who violates this statute has a duty of care that can result in civil liability when an intoxicated minor subsequently is injured.

On November 28, 2009, 17-year-old Steven Dankos was drinking at a party. He was killed when the truck in which he was riding, driven by another…