Negligence – Proximate Cause – Liability of Saloon Keeper for Liquor Sale Against Wife’s Notice

A wrongful death action was brought by the widow and children of a deceased patron of defendant’s saloon, the patron having been fatally injured in a fall while engaged in fisticuffs after consuming liquor sold by defendant. Plaintiffs alleged that defendant knew that deceased became belligerent when intoxicated and that sales were made despite widow’s prior request that liquor not be furnished to deceased husband in sufficient quantity to cause intoxication. The trial court sustained a demurrer without leave to amend and gave judgment for defendant. On appeal, held, reversed; the trial court abused its discretion. Cole v. Rush, (Cal. 1954) 271 P. (2d) 47.