As we head into the holiday season, many employers will be hosting holiday parties for their employees. With the recent legalization of cannabis, and new decision out of the Ontario Court of Appeal, an update on social host liability is in order.
Social host liability refers to the potential for the host of a social gathering to be found legally responsible for the injuries suffered or caused by their intoxicated guests.
To date, social host liability has not been found in Ontario courts. However, there are cases currently making their way through the court system that open the door for a finding of social host liability.
Recent Developments – Williams v Richard
In the 2018 decision of Williams v Richard, the Ontario Court of Appeal opened the door for a finding of social host liability even after one's guest has arrived home safely.
This was a motion for summary judgement, in which the defendants applied to the Courts for a ruling that the plaintiff's claim has no cause of action, and should be dismissed. In a summary judgement motion, the Court is tasked with determining whether the plaintiff has an issue that requires a trial.
In Williams v Richard, Mr. Williams and Mr. Richard were coworkers who would regularly get together after work to drink beer. On the day in issue, Mr. Williams was at Mr. Richard's house where they drank excessively. Mr. Williams left the Richards' home, returned safely to his house, put his children in his car and drove the babysitter home. On his way back, Mr. Williams got into a serious car accident, killing himself and injuring his children.
Potential for Liability Extending Beyond When the Guest Has Safely Returned Home
The motion judge in Williams v Richard referenced the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in John v Flynn to support her finding that even if the Richards owed a duty of care to Mr. Williams, it expired when Mr. Williams arrived safely home.
In John v Flynn, the employer was not found liable for an accident involving one of their employees who became intoxicated during his shift with the employer. The employee left work and arrived home safely, where he continued to drink, and later drove to a friend's house. It was on his way to his friend's house, where the employee was involved in the accident.
The Ontario Court of Appeal in Williams v Richard, disagreed, with the motion judge's reliance on John v Flynn, holding in paragraph 46, that "in a social host liability case, there is no automatic rule that the duty of care expires once the intoxicated driver arrives home safely." The Ontario Court of Appeal sent the case to trial, leaving the door open for a finding of social host liability to third parties after the intoxicated guest has arrived home safely.
Social Host Liability and Cannabis
The recent legalization of cannabis in Canada has left many employers and employees unsure of how it affects the workplace. The Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Labour, and the Government of Ontario have each released policy statements to ease the transition for legalization of cannabis. Overall, recreational consumption of cannabis in the workplace remains Illegal.
To date, the issue of social host liability in relation to cannabis has not come before the courts. However, social hosts should take the same precautions to ensure the safety of their guests as they would with alcohol consumption.
Take Home
As employers set out to host their annual holiday parties, if their guests will be consuming alcohol or cannabis, it is important to ensure that they are not over served, and that they have a safe ride home.
We recommend ensuring that anyone serving alcohol at your party is Smart Serve Certified, in order to regulate the amount of alcohol guests are served.
We also recommend providing all employees with taxi vouchers before the event starts. In addition, employers should send an email to all employees prohibiting them from drinking and/or consuming cannabis and driving, and urging them to use their taxi vouchers.
Although social host liability has not yet been found in Ontario, your friends at MacDonald & Associates want to make sure you have a safe and happy holiday season.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.