Overlawyered » social host

N.J.: overdoses on Xanax, collects $4.1 million

Walter Olson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:06:56 +0000

“A man who overdosed on stolen drugs he ingested at a party in 2007 has settled his lawsuit with a pharmacy, several guests, the party’s host and the host’s mother for $4.1 million. … [Scott] Simon sued the pharmacy for not taking proper precautions to avoid the theft of drugs. He also sued several guests, the party’s host and the host’s parents, who were away for the weekend.” [AP via NJLRA, Schepisi & McLaughlin]

Tags: illegal drugs, New Jersey, personal responsibility, pharmaceuticals, social host

N.J.: Drunk drivers can sue bars that served them

Walter Olson — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:07:54 +0000

In 1997 the New Jersey legislature enacted a law stating that a convicted drunk driver “shall have no cause of action for his or her injuries,” but a state appeals court decided that was no reason not to allow such a driver to sue the drinking establishment that allegedly should have cut him off earlier. An earlier appeals case had allowed such suits against “social hosts” such as party-givers. [AnnMarie McDonald/NJLRA, Henry Gottlieb/NJLJ]

Tags: alcohol, New Jersey, personal responsibility, social host

Open MySpace invitation to house party did not make assault “reasonably foreseeable”

Walter Olson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:42:50 +0000

A California appeals court has declined plaintiffs’ invitation to hold that “a public invitation posted on MySpace to a free party offering music and alcohol was substantially certain to result in an injury to someone.” Three men were “allegedly attacked by a group of unknown individuals as they arrived at the party,” which was thrown by a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and announced on the social media site. [OnPoint News]

Tags: California, MySpace, social host, third party liability for crime

“Mother sues party mates of dead teen”

Walter Olson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:21:31 +0000

A late-night binge drinking outing by some high school friends in Norfolk, Mass. ends badly. The mother says her late daughter “is absolutely 100 percent responsible” for what happened to her but is still is suing seven (7) teenagers and adults for their roles. [Boston Globe]

Tags: alcohol, Massachusetts, social host

Paralyzed in crash after underage drinking, wins $2.5M from homeowner

Walter Olson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:52:40 +0000

George Baldwin, then 19, drank while visiting the Pfeifer sisters at their home; he got into the car as a passenger with intoxicated friend William Klairmont and was paralyzed in the resulting crash. Now Lauralee Pfeifer, the girls’ mother, will pay $2.5 million in a settlement:

Unlike other lawsuits alleging that adults played a role in teenage drinking parties, Pfeifer did not buy the alcohol for the teens or know they were drinking in her home. Pfeifer did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement, said Michael Borders, her lawyer.

But Salvi said Pfeifer should have monitored the teens and suspected they were drinking, especially because her daughters had been caught drinking before.

[Chicago Tribune]

Tags: personal responsibility, social host

Sobering New Year’s thought

Walter Olson — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:56:05 +0000

Social-host liability for party-givers in Canada. Quotes University of Alberta law professor Lewis Klar (Edmonton Journal, Dec. 31).

Tags: alcohol, Canada, social host

Overlawyered » social host

N.J.: overdoses on Xanax, collects $4.1 million

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