Our Clients Ask Us: Community Picnic

Q: Our Board is thinking of hosting a community picnic, at which we plan on having a softball game and intend to provide alcohol. Are we at risk by doing so?

ANSWER: YES!!! Prior to hosting any type of event like this it is essential to check your insurance policy to make sure you have coverage for these types of association-sponsored events. An unexpected injury can expose the board and the Association to liability that would completely undermine the reason to have these type of events. An injured owner or guest suing the Association can easily destroy any sense of community obtained by having these events.

Sometimes there are special policies that the association can purchase for the event. Contacting your insurance carrier will let you know if these types of coverage are available to you. In any event where the association is providing alcoholic beverages it is important to obtain coverage for the event.

If the association is going to use an outside vendor to provide services at the event, carefully review the contract to make sure that there is language that holds the association harmless from any third-party claims. And make sure that they have adequate liability insurance.

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