Dram Shop Liability Complaint - Illinois

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction and Venue
4. Factual Allegations
5. Count I - Dram Shop Liability (235 ILCS 5/6-21)
6. Count II - Loss of Means of Support (235 ILCS 5/6-21)
7. Damages
8. Jury Demand
9. Prayer for Relief
10. Verification
11. State-Specific Notes
12. Sources and References
13. Rule 222(b) Affidavit of Damages Sought

CAPTION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE [________________________________] JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
[________________________________] COUNTY, ILLINOIS

[________________________________],
Plaintiff,

v.

[________________________________] (d/b/a [________________________________]),
Defendant(s).

Case No.: [________________________________]

PARTIES

1. Plaintiff [________________________________] is a resident of [________________________________] County, Illinois, and is the person injured in person, property, or means of support as a result of the acts described herein.

2. Defendant [________________________________] (hereinafter "Licensee Defendant") is a person licensed to sell alcoholic liquor in Illinois, operating as [________________________________], located at [________________________________], Illinois.

3. [________________________________] (hereinafter "Intoxicated Person") was at all relevant times a person whose intoxication was caused by the sale or gift of alcoholic liquor by the Licensee Defendant.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This Circuit Court has original jurisdiction of this action under Ill. Const. art. VI, § 9. Plaintiff brings the claim under 235 ILCS 5/6-21(a). Under § 6-21(b), the alleged sale or gift of liquor causing an intoxicated person's injury in Illinois also subjects a licensed seller to the jurisdiction of Illinois courts.

5. Venue is proper in this County pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-101 because the transaction or part of it giving rise to this claim occurred in [________________________________] County, Illinois.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

6. On or about [__/__/____], the Intoxicated Person was present at the Licensee Defendant's premises at [________________________________].

7. The Licensee Defendant, through its agents, employees, or servants, sold or gave alcoholic liquor to the Intoxicated Person.

8. The sale or gift of alcoholic liquor by the Licensee Defendant caused the intoxication of the Intoxicated Person, in whole or in part.

9. Following the sale or gift of alcoholic liquor, and while intoxicated, the Intoxicated Person [________________________________] [describe injurious conduct].

10. As a direct and proximate result, Plaintiff sustained injury to [his/her] person, property, or means of support, including but not limited to [________________________________].

COUNT I - DRAM SHOP LIABILITY (235 ILCS 5/6-21)

11. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs 1 through 10.

12. Pursuant to 235 ILCS 5/6-21, a person injured in Illinois in person or property by an intoxicated person may sue a person licensed to sell alcoholic liquor who, by selling or giving it, caused that person's intoxication.

13. The Licensee Defendant sold or gave alcoholic liquor to the Intoxicated Person.

14. The Licensee Defendant's sale or gift of alcoholic liquor caused, in whole or in part, the intoxication of the Intoxicated Person.

15. The intoxication of the Intoxicated Person was a proximate cause of the injuries sustained by Plaintiff in the State of Illinois.

16. As a result, the Licensee Defendant is liable to Plaintiff for damages within the statutory limits.

COUNT II - LOSS OF MEANS OF SUPPORT (235 ILCS 5/6-21)

17. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs 1 through 10.

18. Plaintiff is the [________________________________] [spouse/child/parent/brother/sister] of [________________________________], who was injured or killed as a result of the Intoxicated Person's conduct.

19. As a result of the injuries to or death of [________________________________], Plaintiff has been deprived of means of support.

20. Pursuant to 235 ILCS 5/6-21, Plaintiff seeks damages for ☐ loss of means of support ☐ loss of society. The statute permits one of these alternatives, not both.

DAMAGES

21. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant's conduct, Plaintiff has suffered:

Count I - Personal Injury/Property Damage:
☐ Past and future medical expenses: $[________________________________]
☐ Past and future lost wages and earning capacity: $[________________________________]
☐ Pain and suffering: $[________________________________]
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress: $[________________________________]
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life: $[________________________________]
☐ Property damage: $[________________________________]

Count II - Loss of Support (if applicable):
☐ Loss of means of support: $[________________________________]
☐ Loss of society: $[________________________________]

JURY DEMAND

22. Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court:

a. Enter judgment against Defendant(s) and in favor of Plaintiff;
b. Award compensatory damages within the statutory limits applicable at final judgment or settlement;
c. Award pre-judgment and post-judgment interest if recoverable under applicable law;
d. Award costs of this action;
e. Grant such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

VERIFICATION

STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF [________________________________]

I, [________________________________], under penalties as provided by law pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/1-109, certify that the statements set forth in this instrument are true and correct, except as to matters therein stated to be on information and belief, and as to such matters, I certify as aforesaid that I believe them to be true.

_____________________________________________
[________________________________], Plaintiff
Date: [__/__/____]

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________________________
[________________________________]
Attorney for Plaintiff
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
ARDC No.: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

• Statute: 235 ILCS 5/6-21 (Illinois Dram Shop Act).
• Broad Standard: The statute requires only that the licensee's sale or gift of alcohol "caused the intoxication" that led to injury. Unlike many states, it does NOT specifically require proof of visible intoxication at the time of service or knowledge of minor status.
• Filing period: An action under § 6-21 must be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrued.
• Statutory damages limits: The Comptroller's 2026 limits for qualifying final judgments or settlements awarded on or after January 20, 2026 are $90,411.55 for injury to person or property per injured person and $110,503.00 for loss of means of support or society. Recheck the applicable limits at final judgment or settlement.
• Loss of Support Claim: Separate statutory claim for persons deprived of means of support with its own damages cap.
• Distributor/Brewer Exemption: Distributors or brewers who only furnished cooling/dispensing equipment are exempt.
• Social Host Provision: Limited liability for adults (21+) who pay for hotel/motel rooms knowing under-21 persons will consume alcohol there.
• Illinois Verification: Uses 735 ILCS 5/1-109 certification rather than traditional notarized verification.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 235 ILCS 5/6-21 (Illinois Dram Shop Act)
• 735 ILCS 5/2-101 (venue)
• 735 ILCS 5/1-109 (verification by certification)
• Illinois Comptroller, 2026 Dram Shop Liability Limits

ATTACHMENT — RULE 222(b) AFFIDAVIT OF DAMAGES SOUGHT

Attach this damages-threshold affidavit to the initial money-damages pleading for each plaintiff under Rule 222(b). Select one alternative. The plaintiff may sign the certification under 735 ILCS 5/1-109 without a notary.

I, [PLAINTIFF NAME], am a plaintiff in this action. The total money damages I seek [do / do not] exceed $50,000, exclusive of interest and costs. Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/1-109, I certify that the statements in this affidavit are true and correct.

Plaintiff signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________