Commonwealth v Welansky (case)

Commonwealth v. Welansky was a 1939 legal case where the owner of Boston’s Cocoanut Grove nightclub was charged after a fire caused by overcrowding led to 492 deaths. The case centered on whether Welansky was responsible for neglecting safety regulations and knowingly allowing dangerous overcrowding. The court found that his neglect and failure to follow fire safety laws demonstrated gross negligence, making him criminally liable for the deaths. The case is significant for establishing legal accountability for safety violations that lead to mass casualties, emphasizing that business owners have a duty to ensure safe conditions for their patrons.