LIABILITY OF AMERICAN HOTELKEEPERS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 669, 31 December 1902, Page 21

LIABILITY OF AMERICAN HOTELKEEPERS

A remarkable point of law, says the “ Manchester Guardian,” has arisen in Nebraska, .and has been decided by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. A public-house at Ashland had among its customers a certain Charles Walker. This man, after drinking to excess in Moser’s saloon, was. on his way home, thrown out of his buggy and killed.. Thereupon his wife and daughter sued the saloon-keeper for damages. The case was decided in favour of the claimants, and .this judgment has been affirmed on appeal. It may, therefore, be regarded asi the American law that under certain circumstances a publican if pecuniarily responsible for the. death of a customer. What these circumstances are would, of course, be a question of fact to be decided by the evidence brought forward in each case. But whilst every death due to excessive drinking in a public-house would not come within the net of the law, this judgment of a Federal Court must considerably increase the responsibilities of the hotel-keepers.