Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board v. Leggens

Opinion by Judge Doyle, This is an appeal by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (Board) from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County which reversed an [109] order of the Board revoking the liquor license of Joseph W. Leggens and Joyce E. Leggens t/a Blue Heaven (Licensees). The Boards revocation was based upon the following findings: 1. The licensees, their servants, agents or employes aided, abetted or engaged in the traffic-in or sale of a controlled substance on the licensed premises and/or permitted use of their premises in the furtherance of the traffic in or use of-a controlled substance, on October 7, 1985. 2. The licensees, their servants, agents or employes possessed a controlled substance on ■ the licensed premises, on October 7, 1985. . . . Licensees appealed the Boards order, and the common pleas court conducted a de novo hearing. The court found that during an investigation- which occurred on October 7, 1985, one John McGranahan was acting as a bartender at the subject tavern. McGranahan sold a controlled substance to a patron. The court also found, however, that McGranahan had never been employed by the Licensees, nor had the Licensees authorized anyone to employ him, land, thus, that he was not an officer, servant, agent or employee of the Licensees. The bartenders who were scheduled to work on the night in question were Marilyn Huybrecht and Clarence Burkett. When Huybrecht reported to the licensed premises on the night in question she informed Burkett, who was then tending bar, that she was going upstairs to her apartment for a while but would return later to begin her duties. The trial court found that Huybrecht had no knowledge that McGranahan (who was her son) was to act as barman that evening. The court further found that the Licensees did not know of, and were not responsible for, the sale of marijuana on the licensed premises on the night in question. Finally, [110] the trial court found that “[n]o evidence was presented to establish who, if anyone, authorized John McGranahan to act as a bartender on October 7, 1985.” Based upon these findings, the trial court concluded: 1. The licensee, [sic] their servants, agents, or employees did not aid, abate, [sic] or engage in the traffic in or sale of a controlled substance on the licensed premises and/or did not permit the use of their premises in the furtherance of the traffic in or use of a controlled substance on October 7, 1985. 2. The licensees, their servants, agents, or employees did not possess, a controlled substance on the licensed premises on October 7, 1985. Accordingly, it sustained the Licensees’ appeal. The Board’s appeal to this Court followed. This Court’s scope of review in a liquor license revocation appeal where, as here, there was a de novo proceeding before the common pleas court, is limited to determining whether the trial court committed an error of law. or abused its discretion. BJJ Enterprises, Inc. v. Commonwealth, 85 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 372, 481 A.2d 1253 (1984). Where the lower court conducts a de novo review, it may reverse the Board’s determination if it finds a clear abuse of discretion or if it makes factual findings varying significantly from those of the Board. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board v. Horner, 88 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 102, 488 A.2d 661 (1985). The burden of proof in a citation proceeding for a violation of the Liquor Code1 is upon the Board, Banks Appeal, 85 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 169, 481 A.2d 709 (1984), and it must prove its case by a clear preponderance of the evidence. Omicron Enterprises, 68 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 568, 449 A.2d 857 (1982). [111] The Board presents two arguments for our consideration. First, it asserts that the trial court erred in dismissing the case on “agency principles, although the record confirms that an agent of the licensee was present on the licensed premises when the violations were discovered.” Boards brief, p. 8. It is certainly true that a licensee may not disclaim responsibility for the acts of his agents or employees. See, e.g., Fumea Liquor License Case, 186 Pa. Superior Ct. 609, 142 A.2d 326 (1958). The record in this case reveals that Burkett, manager of the bar, was on duty at the time in question. Thus, he must be deemed responsible for McGranahans conduct. The question is not whether McGranahan was an authorized agent or servant of Licensees, but whether Burkett was. That he was is undisputed. Hence, Licensees cannot disclaim responsibility for what Burkett as an employee permitted, to occur. Fumea. Licensees argue that this case is controlled by Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, v. Herb Anthony Enterprise, Inc., 35 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 343, 386 A.2d 1043 (1978). In Herb Anthony, one Carl Williams, a “bartender,” informed undercover officers that a third person, Awelda Pena, would supply them with drugs. She did so and the two individuals (the “bartender,” Williams, and the drug seller, Pena) were arrested. Williams was the son of the barmaid-manager, who, on the night in question, had gone upstairs to lie down because she was not feeling well and asked her son to tend bar for her. The facts indicated, however, that the substitution was without the licensees knowledge and that the manager had not been authorized by the licensee to allow her son to act on the licensees behalf. The trial court found that the son was not an employee, agent, or servant of the licensee. It, therefore, concluded that the licensee could not be held responsible for the son’s actions. We affirmed, reasoning that the son was not act [112] ing on behalf of the licensee and that the licensee had not acquiesced in the conduct. In this case, however, unlike Herb Anthony, we have the acting manager of the bar actually on the premises and on duty at the time the illegal activities occurred. Therefore, we believe that there was sufficient evidence as a matter of law to demonstrate responsibility on the part of Licensees through their employee, Burkett, for McGranahans conduct, and that the trial court erred in concluding to the contrary. In our view this case is analogous to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board v. G & R Bar, Inc., 109 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 438, 531 A.2d 546 (1987). In that case a conversation pertaining to a drug sale was made in the presence of a barmaid who actually commented, “Donnie had good reefer.” Thus, like the case at bar, there was evidence in G & R that an employee permitted drug trafficking to occur on the licensed premises. Accordingly, we conclude that G & R and not Herb Anthony is controlling in this case. Having determined that the trial court erred in not holding Licensees responsible for the actions of Burkett, we need not reach the Boards second argument pertaining to a theory of constructive possession. Reversed. Order . Now, June 13, 1988, the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland, County in the above-captioned matter is hereby reversed. Senior Judge Kalish dissents. Footnotes [1] Act of April 12, 1951, P.L. 90, as amended, 47 P.S. §§1-101-9-902.