15-May-2006
On May 5, 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada released its unanimous decision in Childs v. Desormeaux. The Court concluded that as a general rule, a social host does not owe a duty of care to a person injured by a guest who has consumed alcohol.
Chief Justice McLachlin summarized the Court’s position:
A person hosts a party. Guests drink alcohol. An inebriated guest drives away and causes an accident in which another person is injured. Is the host liable to the person injured? I conclude that as a general rule, a social host does not owe a duty of care to a person injured by a guest who has consumed alcohol . . .
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