Iowa Admin. Code r. 185-5.8

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 8, October 30, 2024

Rule 185-5.8 - Dramshop liability insurance requirements

For the purpose of providing proof of financial responsibility, as required under the provisions of Iowa Code section 123.92, a liability insurance policy shall meet the following requirements.

(1)Current certificate required. The dramshop liability certificate of insurance shall be issued by a company holding a current certificate of authority from the Iowa insurance commissioner authorizing the company to issue dramshop liability insurance in Iowa or issued under the authority and requirements of Iowa Code sections 515.120 and 515.122. The dramshop policy shall take effect the day the license takes effect and shall continue until the expiration date of the license. A new dramshop liability certificate of insurance shall be provided each time the division issues a new license. The dramshop liability certificate of insurance shall contain the following: the name of the insurance provider; the policy number; the name and address of the insured; the license number of the insured, if applicable; and the policy effective dates. Upon request, an insurance company or an insured shall provide to the division a duplicate original of the policy and all pertinent endorsements.

(2)Minimum coverage required. The dramshop liability insurance policy shall provide the following minimum liability coverage, exclusive in interests and cost of action, per occurrence:

a. Fifty thousand dollars for bodily injury to or death of one person in each claim or occurrence.

b. One hundred thousand dollars for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in each occurrence.

c. Twenty-five thousand dollars for loss of means of support of any one person in each occurrence.

d. Fifty thousand dollars for loss of means of support of two or more persons in each occurrence.

(3)Permitted policies. All dramshop policies issued under this rule shall be occurrence-based policies, not claims-made-based policies.

a.Claims-made-based policies. Claims-made-based policies provide liability coverage only if a written claim is made during the policy period, or any applicable extended reporting period.

b.Occurrence-based policies. Occurrence-based policies provide liability coverage only for injuries or damages that occur during the policy period regardless of the number of written claims made.

(4)Cancellation. An insurance company or an insured may cancel a liability policy by giving a minimum of 30 days' prior written notice to the division of the party's intent to cancel the liability policy. The 30-day period shall begin on the date that the division receives the notice of cancellation. The party seeking to cancel a liability policy shall mail written notice of such cancellation to the division in Ankeny, Iowa, by certified mail, or other method deemed acceptable by the division, and shall mail a copy of the notice of cancellation to the licensee at that party's post office address. The notice of cancellation shall contain the following: the name of the party to whom the copy of the notice of cancellation was mailed, the address to which the copy of the notice of cancellation was sent, the date on which the notice of cancellation was mailed, the date the liability policy is being canceled, and the retail alcohol license number of the licensee to be affected by such cancellation.

(5)Civil tort liability. Subject to the ordinary or customary exclusions usually found in a policy of dramshop liability insurance, the policy shall contain coverage to insure against civil tort liability of the insured, created under Iowa Code sections 123.92, 123.93 and 123.94, as those sections now exist or may hereafter be amended.

(6)Proof of financial responsibility. A licensee shall be deemed to have furnished proof of financial responsibility as contemplated under the provisions of Iowa Code sections 123.92, 123.93, and 123.94 when the licensee has filed with the division at its offices in Ankeny, Iowa, a properly executed form as described by subrule 5.8(1), or by other method deemed acceptable by the division.

(7)Signature required. Copies of the form described above shall not be deemed properly executed unless the authorized company representative executing the same shall first have filed with the division a sample of the representative's signature. Electronic and facsimile signatures will be acceptable.

(8)Single insurance policies for multiple establishments. Any licensee that holds multiple licenses throughout the state may purchase a single dramshop insurance policy for all locations provided that:

a. The single dramshop insurance policy provides at least the minimum level of coverage required under this rule for each and every location covered by the policy.

b. All other provisions of this rule are met by the single dramshop insurance policy.

(9)Assault and battery policy requirement. Any dramshop insurance policy issued under this rule shall not contain an exclusionary clause for assault and battery or intentional force with regard to:

a. Employees, agents or any person acting as an agent of the establishment.

b. All patrons or visitors to the establishment.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 123.92, 123.93 and 123.94.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 185-5.8

ARC 0274C, lAB 8/8/12, effective 9/12/12

Amended by IAB September 20, 2023/Volume XLVI, Number 6, effective 10/25/2023

Editorial change: IAC Supplement 11/15/2023