Dram Shop Liability Complaint - Vermont
DRAM SHOP LIABILITY COMPLAINT — VERMONT
Before you use this: Complete only the counts supported by the service facts. Identify the licensee, the recipient, the injury, and the causal connection. File within the time allowed by 7 V.S.A. § 501(d).
Caption
STATE OF VERMONT — SUPERIOR COURT, CIVIL DIVISION
[COUNTY] Unit
Docket No.: [________________]
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| [PLAINTIFF NAME], | Plaintiff |
| v. | |
| [LICENSEE NAME], | Defendant |
Complaint under 7 V.S.A. § 501
Plaintiff alleges:
Parties, jurisdiction, and venue
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Plaintiff [NAME], of [ADDRESS], was injured in [person / property / means of support] by or in consequence of the intoxication described below. Plaintiff is a person other than the intoxicated person within 7 V.S.A. § 501(h)(2).
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Defendant [LEGAL NAME], of [ADDRESS], held a [first / third / fourth] class Vermont liquor license, number [NUMBER], at the relevant time and sold or furnished alcoholic beverages through [ESTABLISHMENT / EMPLOYEE].
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The Civil Division has jurisdiction under 4 V.S.A. § 31(1). Venue lies in this Unit under 12 V.S.A. § 402(a) because [PLAINTIFF / DEFENDANT] resides here [OR NEITHER PARTY RESIDES IN VERMONT].
Factual allegations
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On [DATE] at [PLACE], Defendant sold or furnished [TYPE AND AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL] to [RECIPIENT NAME] at approximately [TIME(S)].
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The recipient was [APPARENTLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE, WITH PERCEPTIBLE SIGNS / REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BECOME UNDER THE INFLUENCE FROM THE AMOUNT DEFENDANT SERVED / A MINOR / SERVED AFTER LEGAL HOURS]. The supporting facts are: [SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS, AMOUNTS, TIMES, AGE FACTS, OR HOURS].
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At [TIME AND PLACE], the recipient [DESCRIBE CONDUCT AND INJURY]. Defendant's sale or furnishing of alcoholic beverages [DESCRIBE FACTUAL CONNECTION TO THE INTOXICATION AND PLAINTIFF'S INJURY].
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Plaintiff suffered [DESCRIBE PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY LOSS, OR LOSS OF SUPPORT], including [ITEMIZED LOSSES AND AMOUNTS, IF KNOWN]. The cause of action accrued on [DATE].
Count I — negligent service by licensee, 7 V.S.A. § 501(a)(2)
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Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1 through 7. Defendant negligently furnished alcoholic beverages to the recipient when [SELECT AND COMPLETE: the recipient was apparently under the influence, shown by the perceptible signs in paragraph 5 / the amount Defendant served made it reasonable to expect the recipient would be under the influence].
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The facts supporting the selected negligent-service route are [OBSERVABLE SIGNS OF INTOXICATION AND WHAT DEFENDANT KNEW OR REASONABLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN / QUANTITY AND TIMING OF ALCOHOL DEFENDANT SERVED AND WHY INTOXICATION WAS REASONABLY EXPECTED]. If off-premises drinking is alleged, the facts putting Defendant on notice are [________________].
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As a result of the service described above and the recipient's resulting conduct, Plaintiff sustained the injuries and losses in paragraph 7.
Count II — unlawful sale to minor or after hours, 7 V.S.A. § 501(a)(1)
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Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 1 through 7. Defendant sold or furnished alcoholic beverages to the recipient [SELECT AND COMPLETE: while the recipient was a minor / after legal serving hours, identifying the applicable hours and time of service].
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Defendant's sale or furnishing caused, in whole or in part, the recipient's intoxication. The recipient's intoxication caused or contributed to Plaintiff's injuries and losses described above.
Relief requested
Plaintiff requests judgment against Defendant for proven compensatory damages of [AMOUNT OR AMOUNT TO BE PROVED], recoverable court costs, interest as allowed by law, and any further relief the Court determines proper.
Dated: [__/__/____]
Attorney signature: ________________________________________
Attorney name and Vermont bar number: [________________________________________]
Address: [________________________________________]
Telephone and email: [________________________________________]
Attorney for Plaintiff
Sources and References
- 7 V.S.A. § 501, including the two-year limitations provision in subsection (d): https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/07/017/00501
- 4 V.S.A. § 31(1), Civil Division jurisdiction: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/04/001/00031
- 12 V.S.A. § 402(a), Superior Court venue: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/021/00402
About this template
- Last updated
- October 2, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 2, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Vermont
- Category
- Personal Injury
Legal authority
- 7 V.S.A. § 501(a)(1)-(4), (d), (h) (licensee liability, limitations, and definitions)
- 4 V.S.A. § 31(1) (Civil Division jurisdiction)
- 12 V.S.A. § 402(a) (Superior Court venue)
Personal injury cases are brought by people who were hurt because of someone else's carelessness: car crashes, slip and falls, defective products, and more. Demand letters, settlement agreements, and court filings in these cases have to document the injuries, the medical treatment, the lost income, and the exact legal basis for holding the other side responsible. Well-prepared paperwork is what drives higher settlements and forces insurers to take the claim seriously.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 2, 2026.
7 V.S.A. § 501(a)(1)-(4), (d), (g)(2), (h) (checked October 2, 2026): "An injured person shall have a right of action against any licensee who caused in whole or in part the intoxication of the intoxicated person by selling or furnishing alcoholic beverages: (A) to a minor as defined in section 2 of this title; or (B) to a person after legal serving hours. An injured person may bring an action against any licensee who negligently furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person: (A) apparently under the influence of alcohol; or (B) who it would be reasonable to expect would be under the influence of alcohol as a result of the amount of alcoholic beverages served by the licensee to that person. An action to recover damages under this section shall be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not after. A social host who knowingly furnishes alcoholic beverages to a minor may be held liable under this section if the social host knew, or a reasonable person in the same circumstances would have known, that the person who received the alcoholic beverages was a minor."
4 V.S.A. § 31(1) (Civil Division jurisdiction) (checked October 2, 2026): "original and exclusive jurisdiction of all original civil actions, except as otherwise provided in sections 2, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 1102 of this title;"
12 V.S.A. § 402(a) (checked October 2, 2026): "An action before a Superior Court shall be brought in the unit in which one of the parties resides, if either resides in the State; otherwise, on motion, the complaint shall be dismissed. If neither party resides in the State, the action may be brought in any unit. Actions concerning real estate shall be brought in the unit in which the lands, or some part thereof, lie."
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