MerakiLawLLC.
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November27,2024
GinaL.Genova,Esq. 1609SouthHallWay SantaBarbara,CA93111 RE:PeterPlaintiffv.TommyTrusting
DearMs.Genova,
OurofficerepresentsPeterPlaintiffinthecasereferencedabove.Giventhatyourclient,Tommy Trusting,hasalreadyadmittedtoallbuttwoelementsofthecaseandhasaweaklypresenteddefense, wesuggestthatbothpartiesmovetowardsasettlement.
OntheWednesdayoffinalsweek,Tommythrewapartyathisresidenceon6782PasadoRdtowhichhe hadinvitedhis18-yearoldbrother,Jack.Tommyhadpurchasedandservedbeerandwinetoallofhis guestsandcreatedanenvironmentwherethedrinkswereeasilyaccessibletoJack.WhileTommy claimshetookprecautionstokeepJackfromdrinking,heirresponsiblylefttheroomanddrinks unattended,andthisiswhenJackacquiredadrinkfromoneofTommy’sfriends.Uponreceivingan MIPcitation,JackimpulsivelytookTommy’sbikeandrodeoffintoIslaVistaandTommyfailedtostop himfromcausingfurtherdamage.Hecollidedwithourclient,Peter,withinabout15minutesafter leavingtheparty Peterwaswalkinghomeafteranightofstudying,andcrossingthestreettohis residenceat6535ElNidoLnwhenhestatesthatJackcameoutofnowhereandhithim.Petersuffereda brokenarmandwristaswellasabruisedhipandthigh,amongotherinjurieshelistedinhisdeclaration. PeterfiledforliabilityclaimsagainstTommyunderCaliforniaCivilCodeSection§1714(d).
Yourclient,Tommy,admitstoeveryelementofthecodeexcepttwo,whicharethatheknowingly furnishedalcoholtoJackandthattheallegedfurnishingtheproximatecauseofPeter’sinjuries. CaliforniaCivilCode§1714(d)statesthefollowing”“Nothinginsubdivision(c)shallprecludeaclaim againstaparent,guardian,oranotheradultwhoknowinglyfurnishesalcoholicbeveragesathisorher residencetoapersonwhomheorsheknows,orshouldhaveknown,tobeunder21yearsofage,in whichcase,notwithstandingsubdivision(b),thefurnishingofthealcoholicbeveragemaybefoundto betheproximatecauseofresultinginjuriesordeath”(Cal.CivilCode§1714(d)).
ThefirstandforemostelementthatTommyneedstoproveinordertobefoundnotliableunderthis claimisthathedidnotfurnishalcohol.However,thefactsofthiscasepresentaquestionableandweak caseforhisdefense.Inhisdeposition,heclaimstakingprecautionstopreventJackfromdrinkingby makinghimpromisenottodrinkandkeepingthecoolerofdrinkswithinview.Themainthingto considerhereisthatTommymaybefoundfurnishingalcoholashethrewthispartyathisresidenceand knowinglyinvitedhisunderagebrother.Itisalsoworthnotingthatheservedwinetohisgirlfriend,
Haley,whoisalsounder21yearsofage.Consideringthis,itisnotindisputablethatTommyhadalso furnishedalcoholtoJack.Tommyalsodoesnotdenyinebriationnorstatethenumberofdrinksthathe himselfconsumed.TheextenttowhichheactivelysurveilledandpreventedJack’sconsumptionofthe drinksisquestionableconsideringthesame.Beingthehostofthepartyandsocializingwithhisguests alsomeansTommycouldnothavefocusedsimplyonJackandpreventedhimfromdrinking.Therefore, therearemanygapsinTommy’sreasonsforclaimingtonothavefurnishedalcohol.
ItisalsoundisputedthatTommyleftthepartyforsometime,meaningheleftbothJackandthedrinks unattended.Evenifitwasn’tTommy’sdirectintentionforJacktodrink,hecreatedanenvironment wherealcoholwasbothavailableandaccessibletoJack;leavingtheroommadeiteveneasierforJack tohavesnuckanydrinks.Inaddition,Tommy’sfriendsandotherguestscouldhavealsobeen consumingandgivingalcoholtoJack,regardlessofwhethertheyknewifhewasunderage.Therefore, Tommy’sdefenseagainsttheclaimofhavingfurnishedalcoholisnotindisputableandpresentsa numberofdifferentfactorsthatmayproveotherwise.
Itboilsdowntotwopoints-Tommyhadcreatedanenvironmentinwhichthealcoholhefurnishedwas accessibletoJackandontopofthat,helefttheroomandallowedaneveneasiercircumstanceunder whichJackcouldhaveconsumedalcohol.UnderCaliforniaCivilCode§1714(d),Tommyhastohave furnishedalcoholforhimtobefoundliableasoneoftwoelementsthatTommydenies.Asthefactsof hiscasefordenyingthiselementareweakandproblematic,atrialjurycanfindhimguiltyoffurnishing alcoholtoJackandthereforeliableforPeter’sinjuries.
Ourclienthassufferedmanysubstantialinjuriesandisaccumulatingmedicalbillsasaresultof Tommy’sirresponsibilityinfurnishingandJack’sirrationalactionsthatleduptothisunfortunate accident.Inlightofthecomplicationsofthiscase,wearerequestingthatyourclientofferasettlement forPeter’sinjuries.Weurgethisasasolutiontoresolvingthismatterquicklyandtoavoidfurtherlosses tobothparties.Shouldyouhaveanyquestions,pleasedonothesitatetocontactme.
Bestregards,