Top Reasons Why Event Organisers Get Sued

Organising an event requires a determined mindset, and often a pretty thick skin to go with it. Whether you are planning a one off event or work in professional event management, you must prepare for unforeseen circumstances. With this is mind, event organisers should protect themselves from potential liability insurance claims.

Ultimately, as the event organiser, the outcome of the event lies on your shoulders. This means that you are at risk of liability insurance claims and being sued, potentially leading to serious financial loss.

Avoid Liability Insurance Claims

Event insurance helps protect organisers from liability claims brought against an organiser and will usually cover legal defence costs and compensation awards.

Here are some of the most common reasons event organisers get sued, and why it is so important to have the appropriate cover.

1.    Personal Injury

If an accident happens at an event causing injury to a visitor, a performer or speaker, or to a member of staff, the organiser may find themselves liable to pay compensation. In general, claims for injury can arise if one of the following proves to be the case:

• The organiser did not carry out appropriate risk assessments and take action to minimise risks of injury.
• People working at the event did not follow the health and safety protocols put in place.
• People working at the event did not have the right skills and qualifications to ensure safety at the event.

So if a piece of equipment like a lighting rig or staging fell during an event and caused injury, the organiser could be liable on three counts – not anticipating the risk and planning accordingly, not managing the installation correctly, or not ensuring the contractors hired were correctly qualified and insured.

In all of these cases, event public liability insurance can help provide protection against legal action. 

2.    Damage to Equipment

This relates specifically to equipment used at the event. An event organiser may be liable for damage to equipment if negligence can be shown on more or less the same terms as with personal injury. So, for example, if an electrical fault damages a supplier’s equipment, and the fault stems from an incorrect installation carried out by an unqualified contractor, the event organiser may be liable.

3.    Damage to Venue

It does not necessarily matter exactly how any damage to the venue is caused, or by whom. Liability rests on whether the organiser has been negligent. If there’s a problem with equipment or an installation, was it carried out correctly by people qualified to do the job?

4.    Breach of Contract

This can be a complex area, and will depend on the nature of the contracts in place for the event. Examples might include:

• A venue operator suing over a breach of terms of use.
• An organisation which hires an event planner to run a conference, exhibition, awards night etc. suing over quality of service.
• Conflicts over performance contracts. If you are booking a paid-for performer, the contracts will usually stipulate certain conditions, including a minimum fee. If ticket sales are poor, the organiser can find themselves sued for the amount specified in the contract.