RI Supreme Court Rejects Social Host Liability

In Willis v. Omar, No. 2007-164 (July 9, 2008), the Rhode Island Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff's invitation to create a new cause of action against social hosts when guests or drunk drivers leave their parties after consuming alcohol and then cause injury or death on the highway. The Court held that social hosts do not owe a duty to third persons for injuries caused by intoxicated guests who were drinking at the host's home, in the absence of a "special relationship." The Court said it was up to the Legislature to create such a duty. Read more.