Samson v. Smith

WALSH, Justice:

This is an interlocutory appeal accepted on certification from the Superior Court, which granted one of the defendants’ motion to dismiss a complaint for personal injuries. The issue presented, is whether a third party injured by the actions of an intoxicated driver has a cause of action against a tavern operator for dispensing alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated patron. The Superior Court ruled that the liability of the tavern owner, Bowl-A-Rama, Inc. (“Bowl-A-Rama”), does not extend to the off-premises conduct of an intoxicated patron. We agree with this conclusion and hold…