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Minnesota cities often allow individuals and groups to use or rent municipal-owned facilities. Sometimes, though, the city and event organizer may be sued if someone is injured at the event. Regardless of the merit, these claims can be time consuming and costly.
To help cities avoid these situations, the Trust offers a program called GatherGuard, an event liability insurance program, which allows individual hosts and groups to protect themselves and their guests at events held at city-owned facilities. Members can offer GatherGuard to event hosts at no additional cost to the city.
How it works
When an individual or group asks to use or rent a city facility, members will:
- Share that inexpensive liability insurance can be purchased online through GatherGuard.
- Provide the individual or group a copy of the GatherGuard flyer, which includes instructions on how to purchase event insurance.
- Encourage the individual or group to visit the GatherGuard website to complete a brief application, generate a quote, and purchase the event insurance with a credit card.
After an event host purchases coverage, a copy of the insurance certificate is emailed to the event host and to the member. The member is automatically named as an additional insured.
Remember, GatherGuard is only meant for events on city property that are held by private individuals or groups. If the city is sponsoring an event, it will generally be covered by its liability coverage through the Trust, although there are exclusions for specific types of events or activities, such as rodeos and demolition derbies. See Section II.T, Special events, of the LMCIT Liability Coverage Guide (pdf) for more information.
Cost
The cost for GatherGuard is based upon the type of event, number of people attending, event length, and several other factors. Event hosts and members can go to the GatherGuard website and generate quotes (there’s no obligation to purchase the insurance).
Covered events
GatherGuard provides private individuals and groups with up to $5 million in liability coverage for special events held on member property, such as:
- Weddings
- Festivals
- Job fairs
- Concerts
- Club events and meetings
- Arts and crafts fairs
- Reunions
Liquor liability coverage is also available through GatherGuard.
GatherGuard program information
—Download the GatherGuard flyer (pdf)
—Visit the GatherGuard website
Resources for city special events
- LMCIT Model Community Center Rental Documents in Section VIII.C.1 of the Park and Recreation Loss Control Guide (pdf) on Community Center Programs, use by outside groups.
- LMCIT Liability Coverage Guide (pdf) (see Sections II. L. Liquor liability, Coverage for other groups or individuals’ liquor liability, and II. U. Special events)