Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Rebecca L. Gushlaw v. Matthew J. Milner

May 10, 20122012 R.I. LEXIS 61

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s summary‑judgment ruling, holding that the driver who transported an intoxicated adult passenger owed no duty to third parties to prevent the passenger from later operating a vehicle. The Court reached this conclusion after analyzing the lack of a special relationship, the absence of a voluntarily‑assumed duty, and public‑policy considerations.