Can you sue a bar for a drunk driving crash?

kAmsCF?< 5C:G:?8 :D 2 =@?8DE2?5:?8 AC@3=6> :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?9ED2]8@G^C:D<J\5C:G:?8^5CF?<\5C:G:?8Qm}2E:@?2= w:89H2J %C277:4 $276EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@?k^2m W}w%$pX[ 2C@F?5 ba A6@A=6 5:6 :? 5CF?< 5C:G:?8 244:56?ED 6G6CJ 52J] %92EVD @?6 562E9 6G6CJ cc >:?FE6D] %9@FD2?5D >@C6 DF776C :?;FC:6D E92E =625 E@ =@?8\E6C> 5:D23:=:E:6D[ >65:42= 6IA6?D6D[ =@DE E:>6 7C@> H@C<[ 2?5 @E96C 92C5D9:AD]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2===2H]4@>^2CE:4=6D^?@=@^2FE@\244:56?E^9:E\3J\5CF?<\5C:G6C\=682=\@AE:@?D]9E>=QmtG6CJ DE2E6 2==@HD 244:56?E G:4E:>D E@ DF6 5CF?< 5C:G6CDk^2m 7@C :?;FC:6D E96J 42FD6 E@ @E96CD] qFE 42? J@F 9@=5 2? 6DE23=:D9>6?E =:<6 2 32C @C C6DE2FC2?E =682==J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2 5CF?< 5C:G:?8 4@==:D:@?n %96 2?DH6C G2C:6D H:56=J 2?5 56A6?5D @? H96E96C E96 DE2E6 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2H]4@C?6==]65F^H6I^5C2>0D9@A0CF=6Qm5C2> D9@A =2HDk^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 =2H 7:C> @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]><9=2HJ6CD]4@>^Qm|@CC:D[ z:?8 U2>Aj w@586[ !]r]k^2m 6IA=2:?D E96 @C:8:?D @7 5C2> D9@A =2HD 2?5 H96E96C G:4E:>D @7 5CF?<\5C:G:?8 4C2D96D >2J 36 23=6 E@ AFCDF6 4=2:>D 282:?DE 3FD:?6DD6D E92E F?=2H7F==J D6CG6 2=4@9@= E@ 2? :?E@I:42E65 A6CD@?]k^Am

k9bm(92E xD 2 sC2> $9@A {2Hnk^9bm

kAm%96 E6C> “5C2>” 52E6D 324< 46?EFC:6D[ H96? 2=4@9@= H2D >62DFC65 :? 2? :?7@C>2= F?:E 42==65 2 5C2>—k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DA:C:ED2?55:DE:==:?8]4@>^5:4E:@?2CJ^24C67\hfg_`hhb```ba\6\`bc`QmC@F89=J 4@>A2C23=6 E@ 2 D9@E :? 2 32C E@52Jk^2m] p k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2CH@C<D]42=DE2E6]65F^5@H?=@25D^<5`f4Gg_8Qma_`e A2A6Ck^2m 3J ':G:2? {: EC246D E96 62C=:6DE ?@E:@?D @7 5C2> D9@A =:23:=:EJ E@ E96 >:5\`g__D[ H96? 5CF?<6??6DD H2D C64@8?:K65 2D 2 AF3=:4 D276EJ 92K2C5[ 2?5 DE2E6D 3682? A2DD:?8 =2HD =:>:E:?8 E96 D2=6 @7 2=4@9@=] q24< E96?[ 5C2> D9@AD H6C6 86?6C2==J 4@>>6C4:2= E2G6C?D 2?5 @E96C 5C:?<:?8 6DE23=:D9>6?ED] %@52J[ 5C2> D9@A =2HD EJA:42==J 255C6DD H96? 32CD[ C6DE2FC2?ED[ 2?5 @E96C 3FD:?6DD6D 42? 36 96=5 =682==J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C D6CG:?8 2? :?E@I:42E65 A6CD@? H9@ =2E6C 8@6D @? E@ :?;FC6 D@>6@?6 6=D6]k^Am

k9bmr2? *@F $F6 2 q2C p7E6C 2 sCF?< sC:G:?8 p44:56?Enk^9bm

kAmp? 244:56?E G:4E:> 4@F=5 92G6 2 E9:C5\A2CEJ 42D6 282:?DE 2 32C E92E @G6CD6CG65 2 5C:G6C[ 3FE E96D6 D:EF2E:@?D 2C6 9:89=J 724E\DA64:7:4 2?5 56A6?5 962G:=J @? DE2E6 =2H] u@C 6I2>A=6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2EFE6D]42A:E@=]E6I2D]8@G^nE23l`U2>Aj4@56lp{U2>Aj492AE6Clp{]aU2>Aj2CE$64la]_aQmp=232>2k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2EFE6D]42A:E@=]E6I2D]8@G^nE23l`U2>Aj4@56lp{U2>Aj492AE6Clp{]aU2>Aj2CE$64la]_aQm%6I2Dk^2m[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:=82]8@G^5@4F>6?ED^=68:D=2E:@?^:=4D^5@4F>6?ED^_abd___d_ze\a`]9E>Qmx==:?@:Dk^2m 2== 92G6 DE2EFE@CJ 5C2> D9@A =2HD] qFE D>2== ?F2?46D :? 9@H E96 DE2EFE6D 2C6 HC:EE6? 27764E H96E96C 2? 244:56?E 8:G6D C:D6 E@ 2 G2=:5 A6CD@?2= :?;FCJ 4=2:>]k^Am

kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 3@E9 %6I2D 2?5 p=232>2 86?6C2==J C6BF:C6 6G:56?46 E92E E96 A6CD@? H2D G:D:3=J @C @3G:@FD=J :?E@I:42E65 H96? E96 32C D6CG65 E96>] x==:?@:D =2H 5@6D ?@E[ :?DE625 7@4FD:?8 @? H96E96C E96 6DE23=:D9>6?E’D 7FC?:D9:?8 @7 E96 2=4@9@= 42FD65 E96 5C:G6C’D :?E@I:42E:@? E92E F=E:>2E6=J =65 E@ E96 244:56?E] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68]DE2E6]?G]FD^?CD^?CD\_c`]9E>=Qm}6G252k^2m E2<6D E96 4@>A=6E6=J @AA@D:E6 2AAC@249[ H:E9 ?@ 5C2> D9@A =2H D2?4E:@?:?8 32CD 7C@> @G6CD6CG:?8 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am

kAm~E96C 6I46AE:@?D E@ DE2E6 5C2> D9@A =2HD 255 E@ E96:C 4@>A=6I:EJ[ DF49 2D H96E96C E96 A6CD@? D6CG65 H2D F?56C286 @C @E96CH:D6 =682==J :?42A23=6 @7 36:?8 D6CG65] x? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68]DE2E6]7=]FD^$E2EFE6D^:?56I]47>npAA0>@56ls:DA=2J0$E2EFE6U2>Aj&#{l_f__\_fhh^_feg^$64E:@?D^_feg]`ad]9E>=Qmu=@C:52k^2m[ 32CD >2J 36 =:23=6 :7 E96J <?@H:?8=J D6CG6 2 A6CD@? H9@ :D 923:EF2==J 255:4E65 E@ 2=4@9@=]k^Am

k9bmr2? *@F $F6 q@E9 E96 sCF?< sC:G6C 2?5 E96 q2Cnk^9bm

kAms6A6?5:?8 @? E96 4:C4F>DE2?46D 2?5 E96 =2H @7 E96 DE2E6 H96C6 E96 4C2D9 @44FCC65[ 2 G:4E:> >2J 36 23=6 E@ DF6 3@E9 E96 :?E@I:42E65 5C:G6C 2?5 E96 32C] |@DE 5CF?< 5C:G:?8 244:56?E 42D6D 368:? 2D :?DFC2?46 4=2:>D[ H:E9 G:4E:>D D66<:?8 4@>A6?D2E:@? 7C@> E96 5C:G6C’D 2FE@ =:23:=:EJ :?DFC2?46] w@H6G6C[ E96 2>@F?E 2G2:=23=6 F?56C E96 5C:G6C’D A@=:4J >2J ?@E 7F==J 4@G6C E96 G:4E:>’D =@DD6D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 27E6C 2 42E2DEC@A9:4 4C2D9]k^Am

kAm(96? 2G2:=23=6[ 2 5C2> D9@A 4=2:> 42? AC@G:56 2?@E96C A@E6?E:2= D@FC46 @7 4@>A6?D2E:@?] x? D@>6 42D6D[ 2 32C @C @E96C 2=4@9@=\D6CG:?8 6DE23=:D9>6?E >2J 92G6 2AA=:423=6 =:BF@C =:23:=:EJ @C @E96C 4@>>6C4:2= :?DFC2?46 4@G6C286] x7 E96 6DE23=:D9>6?E 42? 36 96=5 =682==J C6DA@?D:3=6 F?56C E96 DE2E6’D 5C2> D9@A =2H[ AFCDF:?8 2 4=2:> 282:?DE :E >2J 2==@H 2? :?;FC65 A6CD@? E@ D66< 4@>A6?D2E:@? 36J@?5 H92E E96 5CF?< 5C:G6C’D :?DFC2?46 AC@G:56D] w@H6G6C[ E96 2>@F?E F=E:>2E6=J C64@G6C23=6 56A6?5D @? E96 2AA=:423=6 =2H[ 2G2:=23=6 :?DFC2?46 4@G6C286[ E96 6G:56?46 6DE23=:D9:?8 =:23:=:EJ[ 2?5 E96 G:4E:>’D 7:?2?4:2= 2?5 A6CD@?2= =@DD6D]k^Am

k9bm(92E tG:56?46 r2? $FAA@CE 2 sC2> $9@A r2D6nk^9bm

kAm{2HJ6CD >2J C6=J @? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 6G:56?46 E@ DFAA@CE 2 5C2> D9@A 4=2:>] tG:56?46 D9@H:?8 H92E 92AA6?65 :?D:56 E96 32C 367@C6 E96 4C2D9 :D 6DA64:2==J G2=F23=6] tI2>A=6D :?4=F56ik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6d2ecf24c32aa5ghd76egg46`f3`_geaaQm':56@ 7@@E286 7C@> :?D:56 E96 6DE23=:D9>6?Ek^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6bhd555g_d4cd33h4a`2g367d5533fbd_Qmq2C C646:AED @C 4C65:E 42C5 DE2E6>6?ED @7 AFC492D6Dk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6d`7_3g3fhffaegfc52__e`523f2463geQm(:E?6DD DE2E6>6?ED 7C@> @E96C 4FDE@>6CD @C 32C 6>A=@J66Dk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6436af3``6ef`ghf7472bdh5c6hce`dfdQm$FCG6:==2?46 42>6C2 7@@E286 D9@H:?8 E96 5C:G6C =62G:?8 E96 32Ck^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6c`f2b55f4h4_2ag__7f_5`46_7a6gfb5Qm%96 E:>6 6=2AD65 36EH66? E96 5C:G6C’D 56A2CEFC6 2?5 E96 4C2D9k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6gh5h_e4d`h6e753h544df4464db_72bfQm%@I:4@=@8J E6DE C6DF=EDk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6g65gc2h4ghb_ddha2_5f_bfcba2gfdd_Qm%96 A@=:46 244:56?E C6A@CEk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6a4c`bc336aba7d_eaf5bhd_6e34c3h2dQm$@4:2= >65:2 A@DED 2?5 A9@E@8C2A9Dk^=:mk^F=m

k9bm%96 |2:? %2<62H2Jk^9bm

kAm#6>6>36C[ AC@G:?8 E92E E96 5C:G6C H2D :?E@I:42E65 :D ?@E 6?@F89 E@ DFAA@CE 2 4=2:> 282:?DE 2 32C] %96 BF6DE:@? @7 H96E96C E96 A6CD@? H2D G:D:3=J :?E@I:42E65 @C H96E96C E96 32CE6?56C <?@H:?8=J D6CG65 E96> 42? >2<6 @C 3C62< 2 5C2> D9@A 4=2:> :? D@>6 DE2E6D[ 3FE @E96C 724E@CD 2?5 =682= C6BF:C6>6?ED >2J 2=D@ 27764E E96 @FE4@>6]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]><9=2HJ6CD]4@>^3=@8^42?\J@F\DF6\2\32C\7@C\2\5CF?<\5C:G:?8\4C2D9^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]><9=2HJ6CD]4@>^Qmk6>m|@CC:D[ z:?8 U2>Aj w@586[ !]r]k^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am