Dram Shop and Social Host Liability

1) Introduction
2) Reasons topic is important
3) Jurisdiction’s statutes
4) Ways to limit indemnity payments
a) Caps on damages
b) Statute of limitations / condition precedent
c) Notice provisions
d) Proper parties
e) Types of damages recoverable
f) Venue
5) Societal losses from drunk driving crashes
a) MADD statistics on alcohol-related incidents
b) Development of the law
6) Recap
7) Quiz – Reinforcing Part I Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Introduction to dram shop liability
2) Common fact scenarios
a) Drunk driver
b) Bar fight
3) Liability across jurisdictions
4) Potentially recoverable damages
a) Property damages and/or medical bills
b) Loss of support/society
c) Personal injury
5) Caps on damages: example problem
6) Proper party plaintiffs
a) Inebriant
b) Loss of society for inebriant’s family
7) Proper party defendants
a) Dram shops
b) Social host
c) Commercial seller
d) Hotel’s renter
e) Inebriant
f) Property owner
8) Causation in dram shop cases
9) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 2 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Provocation
a) Example problem
b) What amounts to provocation
2) Complicity
a) Example problem
b) Relation to assumption of risk
3) De minimis amount of alcohol
4) Statute of limitations
a) Example problem
b) Notice provisions
c) Condition precedent
d) Covenant of good faith and fair dealing
5) Venue
a) Example problem
b) In-state dram, out-of-state accident
c) Out-of-state dram, in-state accident
6) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 3 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Basic investigative goals
a) Was the inebriant served
b) Was a minor involved
2) Prompt investigation is key
a) High turnover of wait staff
b) Other witnesses
c) Memories fade
3) Security tapes
a) Kept for 30 days
b) Direct evidence of the incident in question
4) UIM carrier often involved
5) Credit card records
a) Other drams/Liquor stores
b) Direct evidence of the incident in question
6) Social networking sites
7) Medical records
8) Property owner for source of contribution
9) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 4 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Common fact scenarios
a) Drunk driving after house party
b) House fight
2) Social host categories of liability
a) Adult serves minor
b) Adult serves adult
c) Minor serves minor
3) High degree of exposure with social host
a) No caps on damages
b) No restricted statute of limitations
c) No notice provisions
d) Emotionally charged verdicts
4) Major issues for claims professionals
a) Does the jurisdiction recognize social host liability?
b) Which category of liability (adult/minor?)
c) Is there a statute?
d) All potential sources of contribution
e) Defenses
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 5 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Value of statements that the inebriant was not obviously drunk
2) Exclusion from standard CGL policy
a) Exclusion C
b) Purchase coverage with endorsement or separate policy
3) Umbrella policies
4) Coverage for punitive damages
5) Product liability claims
a) Covered by CGL
b) Liquor liability form contains exclusion for product liability
6) Wrap-up
a) Know your jurisdiction
b) Investigate quickly
7) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 6 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz