Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8446 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MARCH | APRIL 2017 Asked & Answered Asked & Answered ANSWERS TO YOUR IMPORTANT LEGAL QUESTIONS FROM OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS Q: Our 17-year-old daughter has approached us about hosting an after-prom party at our home. We love the idea of having all her friends over to celebrate the spe- cial evening. We’re concerned, though, that we could end up with a really big group of kids. Are we responsible for all of them? A:The short answer, is “yes.” If kids come to your house, you are responsible for them. As a rule, I don’t suggest that anyone host big parties with teens because if problems arise or if there are any injuries, you’re on the hook for it. It’s usually just a bad idea. The big question is frequently about underage drink- ing. I’ve seen parents try to “control” parties by allowing alcohol but taking everyone’s keys as they come in the door and then trying to monitor who consumes alcoholic beverages so they don’t drink and drive. There are still problems with that. It’s not legal even if you try to control the consump- tion and the driving. When there’s a group of teenagers at a party, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Things can get out of hand, and it’s not just the drunk driving to be concerned about. What if a drunk teen falls down your stairs? Or if a minor gets alcohol poisoning? If you have medications in your home and unsupervised kids get access to them, think of what could go wrong. If you do decide to go ahead and host the party, ensure it’s not an “open” party. Know who will be coming, and let the kids know you have a no alcohol or drug policy. The number one rule is that you can’t provide alcohol, and you can’t knowingly have it at the party. There’s no “pretend wall” where you can ignore what the teenagers are doing on the other side of the house. If you do choose to provide alcohol directly or you are permitting it in your home, it can give rise to criminal and civil responsibility. I sue drunk drivers for a living, and the question is always, “What was the source of the alcohol?” If you do suspect that a minor has been drinking – even if they showed up at your home and had already consumed alcohol beforehand – you must ensure the kid doesn’t drive. We all want our kids to enjoy their prom and to have time to celebrate with their friends. Just remember they are still children in the eyes of the law, and as parents we’re liable for any children in our care. Robert Chaiken, Chaiken & Chaiken, P.C. Complex Civil Litigation and Crisis Management involving Business, Personal and Serious Injury Claims Rob Chaiken earned a law degree from the University of Florida in 1991. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is a member of the United States District Courts for Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice and Texas Trial Lawyers Associations. www.chaikenlaw.com goodADVICE Often decisions about family matters have legal consequences. Here, three of our most trusted attorneys offer their professional opinion on how to handle some tricky situations. "Just remember they are still children in the eyes of the law, and as parents we’re liable for any children in our care."