Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Maryland

Sue me when you drink.

What are my options when I take clients to dinner and they want to have drinks expensed to my employer? Am I in legal trouble should they leave the dinner and be involved in an accident? I would prefer to go to dinner where no drinks can be purchased but there aren't any where I live. I feel like my employer would use me as their scape goat should a client be involved in an accident where drinking is involved. What are my options to protect myself?


Asked on 4/05/98, 5:53 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

drinking business dinner guests

Generally speaking, you have no legal responsibility if a dinner companion gets involved in a car accident after the dinner. This assumes that at the time of the accident, he/she isn't transporting you somewhere or driving your car. There have been instances of a bar or restaurant that continues to serve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person and then allows him to drive away being held legally responsible for an accident caused by the intoxicated individual, but those instances are rare. Who pays for the drinks (ie, you, your employer or the guest) is irrelevant. Of course, as a good citizen, you should discourage someone who has drunk too much from driving anyway.

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Answered on 5/05/98, 2:43 pm


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