Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Michigan

If a bar serves a minor and he leaves and gets in an accident does he have the r

Say A minor being 20 goes into a bar, at the door was banded over 21. Gets served 4 drinks. Leaves and hits a tree. Was life Flighted to Hospital in critical conditon for 3 days. Is there a possible lawsuit there?


Asked on 8/18/01, 1:24 am

3 Answers from Attorneys

William Morrison Action Defense Center

Re: If a bar serves a minor and he leaves and gets in an accident does he have t

A minor who buys alcoholic beverages, becomes intoxicated and then subsequently injures himself does not have a cause of action against the licensee who sold the minor the liquor.

Read more
Answered on 8/22/01, 10:50 pm
Regina Mullen Legal Data Services, PLC

Re: If a bar serves a minor and he leaves and gets in an accident does he have t

Let me get this straight: a minor goes into a bar and presents an ID which says 20...the bar let's him in as over 21, but the minor KNOWING that he was not of age, fails to correct the bar doorperson, then buys and is served not one, but 4 drinks. This is a misdemeanor under the Michigan Act.

Said minor then goes out and gets into an accident, presumably because he's drunk, and now wants to sue the bar for mis-tagging him and then serving him drinks that he knew he shouldn't have had. Now, you might be able to sue the bar, but given the role of the minor, it's hard to fault the bar unless the facts are extraordinary.

Good luck!

Read more
Answered on 8/20/01, 4:24 pm
William Stern William Stern, P.C.

Re: If a bar serves a minor and he leaves and gets in an accident does he have t

If the minor gained admittance with fake ID (which is highly probable), and the bar did not serve the minor while the minor was visibly intoxicated, the bar is not going to be liable. The minor's own conduct will be the legal cause of the injury.

Read more
Answered on 8/21/01, 7:18 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Civil Rights Law questions and answers in Michigan