Cases
Cases tell the story of the social host liability law. In some instances they provide the impetus for enacting or amending a social host statute. In others they clarify the meaning or application of a statute or the common law. Still others serve as examples of tragedies caused by the furnishing of alcohol to minors. The cases discussed include both criminal and civil actions.
Massachusetts
Prior to the amendment of the Social Host Law (codified at M.G.L.c. 138, § 34) in 2000, the law in Massachusetts generally held a social host liable for injury to an innocent third party caused by an intoxicated guest only when the host actually supplied or provided the alcohol to the guest. Courts rarely found a host liable for injuries sustained by the guest himself. The following cases shaped the development of the social host law in Massachusetts:
Central to Amendment of Law
- McGuiggan v. New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., 398 Mass. 152, 496 NE 2d 141 (1986)
- Langemann v. Davis, 398 Mass. 166, 495 NE 2d 847 (1986)
- Wallace v. Wilson, 411 Mass. 8, 575 NE 2d 1134 (1991)
- Ulwick v. DeChristopher, 411 Mass. 401, 582 NE 2d 954 (1991)
- Cremins v. Clancy, 415 Mass. 289, 612 NE 2d 1183 (1993)
- Kelly v. Avon Tape, Inc, 417 Mass. 587, 631 NE 2d 1013 (1994)
- Sbordone v. Smith, 1995 WL 1146199 (Mass.Super. 1995)
- Smith v. Lennon
- John Zarrella allowed his daughter to hold a birthday party at his house, thinking he was providing a "safe place to drink..." (1997) -->more
Post Amendment of the Social Host Law
- 2005
- 2003
- Having consumed alcohol to the point of intoxication at a residence at which the owners were not present, William White got into his vehicle to drive to another location... -->more
- Having been in attendance at a party all night, William Senne was headed home when his vehicle rear-ended a state trooper's parked cruiser... -->more
- Shannon Dwyer procured a 30 pack of beer and proceeded to attend parties at residences where the parents were not present -->more
- After running out of beer at a gathering at a residence where the parents were not present, several teens decided to go on a beer run... -->more
- Nancy St. Jean was a mother who allowed weekend parties for her daughter and High School aged friends... -->more
- 2002
- While driving his three close friends home after celebrating a 20th birthday at a bar in Rhode Island, Corey Scanlon lost control of the vehicle and flipped it... -->more
