Are there any defenses to a claim of negligence in a liquor liability claim?

Yes, there are several defenses to a claim of negligence in a liquor liability claim in the state of New York. These defenses include the following: First, a defendant can argue that the plaintiff was already impaired from drinks consumed prior to being served by the defendant. This defense is known as “prior intoxication.” However, courts have held that a defendant still has a duty to ensure that a customer had not consumed to much alcohol regardless of prior intoxication. Second, a defendant can argue that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent. This means that the plaintiff acted in a way that contributed to their hurt, injury, or damages. For example, if a customer had a few drinks at a restaurant, then drove home and caused a car accident, the defendant could argue that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent. Third, a defendant can argue that the plaintiff was warned about the potential harmful effects of consuming too much alcohol. This defense is known as “assumption of risk” and it must be demonstrated that the plaintiff was indeed advised of this risk and voluntarily assumed it. Finally, a defendant can raise the defense that the plaintiff acted unlawfully and this caused the injury. This defense is known as the “illegal act” defense and is used by defendants to argue that the plaintiff’s own illegal actions were the cause of the injury. These are some of the defenses that a defendant may use when defending against a claim of negligence in a liquor liability claim in New York. However, it must be noted that the success of these defenses ultimately depends on the facts in each individual case.

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