Johnson v. Montgomery (Slip Opinion)

**What Happened** This case involved a dispute about who could be held responsible when someone gets hurt due to a worker or contractor being drunk on the job. The question was whether Ohio's Dram Shop Act—which makes businesses liable for serving alcohol to intoxicated people who then cause harm—applied only to customers or also covered employees and contractors. **What the Court Decided** The Ohio court ruled that the state's Dram Shop Act covers more than just customers at bars and restaurants. The law also applies when businesses serve alcohol to their own workers or independent contractors who are already intoxicated. If that intoxicated worker or contractor then causes an injury, the business that served them alcohol can be held legally responsible for the harm. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling provides important protection for workers who might be injured by intoxicated coworkers or contractors. If someone gets hurt because an employer served alcohol to an already-drunk employee who then caused an accident, the injured person may be able to hold the employer accountable. This creates an incentive for employers to be more careful about serving alcohol to workers during company events or on work premises.