MARTHA FEST v. WILLIAM OLSON AND OTHERS

Minnesota Supreme Court1917-07-20No. Nos. 20,268—(90)

138 Minn. 31

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court affirmed the judgment, finding that the trial court properly instructed the jury that a saloonkeeper's illegal sale need not be the exclusive cause of intoxication to impose liability—it is sufficient that the sale cooperate with or contribute to the intoxication that proximately caused the plaintiff's husband's death.

Martha Fest brought a civil action against two licensed saloonkeepers and a surety company for damages resulting from her husband's death. The husband drowned while crossing a lake after purchasing intoxicating liquor on a Sunday, when such sales were prohibited by law. The jury found that the husband obtained liquor from both defendants' saloons, that this liquor caused his intoxication, and that his intoxication proximately caused his drowning.

The defendants appealed the judgment and a $3,000 verdict, challenging the trial court's instructions to the jury. The court rejected their argument, holding that under the applicable statute, a defendant need not be the sole cause of intoxication to face liability. Rather, a defendant's illegal sale is sufficient if it acts as a contributing or concurrent cause of the intoxication that proximately resulted in harm.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Whether an illegal liquor sale must be the sole cause of intoxication to impose statutory liability
Whether multiple illegal sales by different defendants acting without concert can jointly cause actionable intoxication
Whether intoxication proximately caused drowning and whether that determination was proper for jury consideration

Procedural posture

The defendants appealed from the trial court's order denying their motion for a new trial following a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

Dibell, C.

This is an action by the plaintiff, Martha Fest, to recover for the death of her husband, Andres Fest, alleged to have been caused by the use of intoxicating liquor sold him in violation of law. There was a verdict for the plaintiff. The defendants appeal from the order denying their motion for a new trial.

The defendants Olson and Giacomo were licensed saloonkeepers in Gilbert, St. Louis county. Each operated a saloon. The defendant Illinois Surety Company was a surety on the statutory bond of each. The statute imposing upon licensed saloonkeepers liability for illegal sales is as follows:

“Every husband, wife, child, parent, guardian, employer, or other person, who shall be injured in person or property, or means of support, by any intoxicated person, or by the intoxication of any person, shall have a right of action, in his or her own name, against any person, who shall by illegally selling, bartering, or giving intoxicating liquors, have caused the intoxication of such person, for all damages sustained; and all damages recovered by a minor under this act shall be paid either to such minor or to his or her parent, guardian, or next friend, as the court shall direct; and all suits for damages under this act shall be by civil action in any of the courts of this state having jurisdiction thereof.” G. S. 1913, § 3200.

The plaintiff claims that the defendants sold her husband intoxicating liquor on Sunday, May 31, 1914. A sale on Sunday is illegal. Liability follows for the result coming proximately from the illegal act. Posch v. Lion B. & S. Co. 137 Minn. 169, 163 N. W. 131.

Fest lived on Ely Lake near Gilbert. In the afternoon of Sunday, May 31, 1914, he with some companions went to Gilbert. While crossing the lake on his return in the evening the boat upset and he was drowned. The jury found that he obtained intoxicating liquor from the saloon of each defendant, that his intoxication was caused by liquor sold by each, and that his intoxication resulted in his drowning. These were contested questions at the trial, and were submitted for special findings, and the determination of the jury reached upon sufficient evidence is final. The question of proximate cause was clearly for the jury. Posch v. Lion B. & S. Co. 137 Minn. 169, 163 N. W. 131; Wunsewich v. Olson, 137 Minn. 98, 162 N. W. 1054; Joyce, Intoxicating Liquors, § 433; 2 Woollen & Thornton, Intoxicating Liquors, § 1041; 11 Dec. Dig. Intoxicating Liquors, § 291; 29 Cent. Dig. Intoxicating Liquors, §§ 425-427.

Exception is taken to the following portion of the charge:

“In order that the intoxicating liquor may operate to cause the intoxication I take it that it is not necessary that, the intoxicating liquor furnished be the sole cause of the intoxication; it is sufficient if it cooperates with other intoxicating liquors that may have been furnished to cause the intoxication, and if intoxicating liquors are furnished to a man who is already intoxicated which continues him in a state of intoxication further than he otherwise would be, it would be furnishing liquor operating to cause the intoxication, or if it increases the degree of his intoxication within the meaning of this statute.”

The charge was correct. To render a defendant liable his sale need not be the .sole cause of the intoxication, nor is it necessary, when illegal sales are made by more than one, that they act in concert. To charge either it is enough that his sale was a co-operating or concurring cause or one proximately contributing to the result. The statutes of the different states vary in phraseology, but the rule stated is one of general application. Wardell v. McConnell, 23 Neb. 152, 36 N. W. 278; Gorey v. Kelly, 64 Neb. 605, 90 N. W. 554; Werner v. Edmiston, 24 Kan. 147; Faivre v. Manderscheid, 117 Iowa, 724, 90 N. W. 76; Simser v. State, 17 Ind. App. 519, 47 N. E. 229; Black, Intoxicating Liquors, § 299; Joyce, Intoxicating Liquors, § 435; 2 Woollen & Thornton, Intoxicating Liquors, § 1045.

The plaintiff was a man 28 years of age, in good health, and capable of earning good wages. The verdict was for $3,000. It is not excessive.

Order affirmed.