Longform Narrative on Melgar v. Greene (2010) Case

Melgar v. Greene (2010)
Every dawning day, the world experiences occurrences whose hallmarks hog headline news and attract the rapt attention of the masses. More often than not, such instances stake out their pride of place in the annals of history for the benefit of future generations, given their supreme significance. Even in the legal fraternity, such incidents are a common feature. On the night of March 17, 2006, an incident with the aforementioned characteristics unfolded in Gaithersburg, Maryland. That fateful evening, Oscar Melgar, a thirteen-year-old boy, received information about a party being held in Rockville from his friend, Brian Bentacur. Since the party was taking place approximately thirty minutes from their home, Bentacur's mother agreed to drive the boys to the venue. That was after Oscar's mother gave her consent to Oscar to attend the party. At around 8:15 p.m., Brian's picked up Oscar and, thirty minutes later, dropped the boys at the designated venue. As events gained momentum, an older youth started serving a cocktail of alcoholic beverages using eight-ounce cups. Oscar took the drink with the full knowledge that it was alcoholic despite never having tasted alcohol before. After several helpings, the effects of the drinks began to take a toll on the boy, but that did not deter him from drinking more. Bentacur, on the other hand, seemed to fare no better, and his conduct grew increasingly unbecoming, constraining one of the girls in attendance to raise her concerns. Given the prevailing circumstances, other revelers advised Oscar to take his friend to "walk off" the effects of the alcohol he had consumed. Oscar obliged and escorted his friend out to a frigid night; temperatures hovered around the upper thirties that night. As fate would have it, the boys were unsuitably dressed for the cold weather. Brian, for instance, wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, an attired ill-suited to fend off the biting cold that characterized that night.
Now, the manner in which events unfolded at that party brings to the fore critical questions regarding granting minors the autonomy to hold parties without the presence of adults to chaperon them. Even though minors would viciously oppose such an arrangement, by all standards, it is supremely critical for parents to supervise their children during such parties. One can reasonably argue that had a guardian been present at the party, there would not have been alcoholic beverages in such wanton quantities. As such, Oscar and his friend Bentacur, boys hardly in their teens, would not have had the unfortunate opportunity of imbibing alcohol and exposing themselves to manifold hazards associated with drunkenness. For instance, other partygoers constrained Oscar to take his friend out despite the freezing cold. As indicated earlier, the duo was unsuitably attired for such inclement weather, which disposed their health to several risks. In addition, the boys were unfamiliar with the geographical layout of the area and could have easily run astray or fallen into some sort of trouble. In the same vein, and by some stretch of the imagination, one is bound to wonder what would have befallen the two boys had they resisted the proposition they get out of the house. Most probably, they would hav...