Franklin Officials Must Confront Questions Before Renewing Irish Cottage Liquor License

 

By Dr. Richard A. Busalacchi
Franklin Community News

As the Franklin License Committee meets Tuesday evening to review annual liquor license renewals, one application should not be treated as routine.

The Class B license for Irish Cottage comes before the committee under the shadow of a fatal and preventable tragedy—one that demands more than a rubber stamp.

On November 2, 2024, 74-year-old Franklin resident James Riegling was killed in a head-on crash in a construction zone. According to a Nov. 7, 2024 report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the driver, Leonel Molina Rios, 58, is now facing one count of felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and one count of knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license causing death.

If convicted, Molina Rios could face up to 31 years in prison and $110,000 in fines. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 1:30 p.m. in Judge Borowski’s courtroom, Room 502 of the Safety Building.

According to the criminal complaint cited in that report, Molina Rios told police he had been drinking for hours at Irish Cottage prior to the crash. He admitted consuming multiple beers and shots of liquor and stated he believed he was impaired when he chose to drive. A bartender also confirmed serving a patron matching his identity several alcoholic drinks during that time.

Those facts are not speculation—they come directly from the criminal complaint.

And they raise a fundamental question for Franklin officials:
Was this tragedy solely the result of one individual’s actions, or does it reflect a failure of responsible alcohol service that demands accountability?

More Than Just One Decision

Wisconsin law prohibits serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals. That responsibility falls squarely on the establishment and its staff.

Yet in this case, a patron was able to drink for hours, leave the premises, and—by his own admission—drive while impaired before causing a fatal crash.

That sequence of events demands scrutiny.

Dram Shop Law Is Not a Shield From Accountability

Wisconsin’s dram shop law limits the ability to hold bars civilly liable for the actions of intoxicated adult patrons. But that does not give establishments a free pass.

State law still prohibits serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals, and that responsibility falls squarely on the establishment and its staff. When a patron can consume multiple drinks over several hours, admit he was impaired, and then leave and cause a fatal crash, it raises serious questions about whether those standards were followed. Even if civil courts are limited in imposing liability, the City of Franklin is not. Through its licensing authority, it has both the power—and the obligation—to determine whether an establishment is operating in a manner that protects public safety.

A Decision That Matters

Each year, liquor license renewals are often routine. But this year should not be.

Approving this license without pause sends a message—that even in the wake of a fatal drunk driving crash tied to alcohol service at a local establishment, business proceeds as usual.

That is not the standard Franklin has historically set.

An Opportunity for Leadership

Members of the License Committee—and ultimately the Common Council—have a choice.

They can approve the license as part of routine business, or they can hold the application and conduct a full review of the circumstances surrounding this case.

That is not punishment. It is responsible governance.

A Community Watching Closely

The impact of this crash did not end on November 2.

James Riegling was a husband, father, grandfather, and a member of this community. His loss continues to be felt by family, friends, and neighbors.

Sentencing on May 22 will give the victim’s family an opportunity to speak about that loss. It will also provide city officials a chance to hear firsthand the consequences of impaired driving.

But the decision before the License Committee comes first.

The Bottom Line

This is not about assigning criminal guilt—that will be decided in court.

This is about accountability.

If a patron can drink for hours, leave a licensed establishment impaired, and cause a fatal crash, the city has a responsibility to ask whether that establishment met its obligations under the law.

Franklin officials should not move forward with business as usual.

They should pause.
They should review.
And they should ensure that the privilege of holding a liquor license in this city is matched by a commitment to protecting the public.

This piece reflects the author’s personal opinion and experiences. All statements are presented as commentary protected under the First Amendment. Readers are encouraged to review public records, filings, and documented evidence referenced throughout this article.

Dr. Richard Busalacchi is the Publisher of Franklin Community News, where he focuses on government transparency, community accountability, and local public policy. He believes a community’s strength depends on open dialogue, honest leadership, and the courage to speak the truth—even when it makes powerful people uncomfortable.

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