Profitt v. Canez

Decision Date16 December 1977
Docket NumberNo. 2,CA-CIV,2
Citation575 P.2d 1261,118 Ariz. 235
PartiesRoy PROFITT, an unmarried man, Appellant, v. Anthony CANEZ and Maria Canez, his wife, dba Las Brazas Restaurant, Appellees. 2518.
CourtArizona Court of Appeals

Miller, Pitt & Feldman, P. C. by Stanley G. Feldman and Nanette M. Warner, Tucson, for appellant. 1

Everett, Bury & Moeller, P. C. by David C. Bury and Marshall Humphrey III, Tucson, for appellees.

OPINION

STEVENS, Judge, Retired:

This case was decided in the Superior Court by a judgment which granted the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings. The motion urged that the plaintiff's complaint did not state a claim for relief. In our review on this appeal, we must view the complaint filed in the Superior Court in the light most favorable to stating a claim for relief. The appellant was the Superior Court plaintiff and the appellees were the Superior Court defendants. They will be referred to herein as they appeared in the Superior Court. The facts stated herein are the facts stated in the complaint.

The plaintiff's daughter received injuries in a two-car accident, which injuries caused her death. The suit was for damages by reason of her death. The driver of the other car was not joined as a party defendant. The defendants owned and operated an establishment selling alcoholic beverages. On the day of the two-car collision and shortly before the collision, the defendants furnished and sold alcoholic beverages to the driver, who was already in an intoxicated condition. He left the defendants' place of business in an intoxicated condition and was intoxicated at the time of the collision. The intoxication was a condition which was a contributing factor in the cause of the collision and resulting death.

The minute entry ruling granting the motion for judgment on the pleadings succinctly states the basis of the ruling as follows:

"The Court Finds that the State of Arizona has no 'dramshop' statutes or similar statutes under which to hold the Defendants liable under the circumstances."

We agree with the trial court's holding and affirm.

Whether Arizona needs a dramshop law is a matter for the legislature to decide. At least, since Pratt v. Daly, 55 Ariz. 535, 104 P.2d 147 (1940), and Collier v. Stamatis, 63 Ariz. 285, 162 P.2d 125 (1945), there has been an awareness of the absence of such a law. Both divisions of this Court have held that Arizona does not have a dramshop law. See Pierce v. Lopez, 16 Ariz.App. 54, 490 P.2d 1182 (1971), and Thompson v....

To continue reading

Request your trial
8 cases
  • Alegria v. Payonk
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • September 26, 1980
    ...consideration. Idaho Const. Art. II, § 1. The above conclusion is not without recent authority. See, e. g., Profitt v. Canez, 118 Ariz. 235, 575 P.2d 1261 (Ariz.1978) (but see Lewis v. Wolf, 122 Ariz. 567, 596 P.2d 705 (Ariz.App.1979)); Nelson v. Steffens, 170 Conn. 356, 365 A.2d 1174 (1976......
  • Olsen v. Copeland, 77-626
    • United States
    • Wisconsin Supreme Court
    • June 29, 1979
    ...held that no common-law cause of action exists and that the formulation of a remedy belongs with the legislature. Profitt v. Canez, 118 Ariz. 235, 575 P.2d 1261 (1977); Carr v. Turner, 238 Ark. 889, 385 S.W.2d 656 (1965); Meade v. Freeman, 93 Idaho 389, 462 P.2d 54 (1969); State v. Hatfield......
  • Lewis v. Wolf
    • United States
    • Arizona Court of Appeals
    • March 30, 1979
    ...court granted the bar owner's motion for summary judgment based upon the latest appellate court pronouncement in Profitt v. Canez, 118 Ariz. 235, 575 P.2d 1261 (App.1977), which held that in the absence of a dram shop law the bar owner is not liable in a case such as Our position as an inte......
  • Ontiveros v. Borak
    • United States
    • Arizona Supreme Court
    • July 5, 1983
    ...both on and off the premises in cases such as Lewis v. Wolf, 122 Ariz. 567, 568, 596 P.2d 705, 706 (App.1979); Profitt v. Canez, 118 Ariz. 235, 236, 575 P.2d 1261, 1262 (App.1978); Thompson v. Bryson, 19 Ariz.App. 134, 138, 505 P.2d 572, 576 (1973); Pierce v. Lopez, 16 Ariz.App. 54, 57, 490......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT