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Albert I. ALEGRIA individually and as spouse and Raymond A. Alegria Joseph Alegria and Isabel Bunce as the children and heirs at law of Marie Josephine Alegria deceased Plaintiffs-Appellants
vs.
Lawrence Paul PAYONK John Forbis and Lorene Golling individually and as joint-venturers partners or d/b/a John's Barn John Doe 1 2 3 4 5 and XYZ Corporation Bobby Catlett and Charles Gilbert individually and as joint-venturers partners or d/b/a The Office John Doe 6 7 8 9 10 and ABC Corporation Defendants-Respondents
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Issues:
Alcohol, liability.
Case Summary:
Albert Alegria and his children appeal a lower court's ruling in a case that involves a DUI-related fatality. Alegria was injured and his wife, Marie, was killed when their vehicle was struck by a second automobile. The driver of the second vehicle, a 17-year-old male, had been drinking alcohol at two taverns. The Alegrias filed suit against the driver and the operators of the two taverns. The tavern operators responded with a motion for summary judgment.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
An Idaho district court granted the tavern operators' motion for summary judgment. Adhering to existing state law, the court ruled that the vending of alcohol could not be the proximate cause of damages to a third party The Alegrias now appeal
Outcome:
The Algerias wins. The Supreme Court of Idaho reversed the ruling of the lower jurisdiction and remanded the case to the circuit court for additional review.