Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters (CSU) has filed a legal complaint asserting that it holds no responsibility to defend or compensate the Kansas City Sports Commission (KCSC) in relation to a lawsuit stemming from the tragic shooting that took place during the 2024 Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City.
According to CSU, the injuries sustained during the February 14 incident fall under the policy’s assault and battery exclusion, which removes such claims from coverage under the event’s commercial general liability insurance.
Tragedy at a Celebration
The Super Bowl victory parade, held in downtown Kansas City to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ championship win, turned tragic when gunfire broke out near Union Station, resulting in one fatality and injuries to more than 20 people. The violence sparked widespread concern over event safety and crowd control measures.
In response, multiple victims filed a lawsuit in June 2025 targeting the Kansas City Sports Commission, the City of Kansas City, Union Station, and other affiliated entities. The plaintiffs argue that their injuries were the result of systemic negligence, poor planning, and a failure to implement adequate safety measures, particularly in light of prior major events hosted by the city that saw more robust security arrangements.
Attorneys representing the victims, including the law firm Stueve Siegel Hanson, described the shooting as a “preventable calamity” that could have been avoided through appropriate foresight and diligence on the part of the event organizers.
Insurance Policy Details and Exclusion
In its recent complaint, CSU seeks a declaratory judgment that it is not obligated to provide legal defense or financial coverage in connection with the lawsuit. The insurer issued a special event commercial general liability policy to KCSC, which carried coverage limits of $1 million per occurrence and a $5 million general aggregate limit.
Importantly, the City of Kansas City and Union Station Kansas City were also named as additional insureds under the terms of this policy.
However, CSU points to a specific endorsement in the policy that excludes coverage for any claims related to assault or battery. This includes not only direct actions but also claims alleging failure to prevent such acts or negligent hiring, supervision, or training of security personnel.
CSU argues that the allegations made in the victims’ lawsuit — which center around lapses in event planning, security preparation, and crowd control — clearly fall under the policy’s exclusion clause, and therefore, no coverage or defense obligation applies.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The underlying lawsuit contends that event organizers and public officials failed to prepare adequately for a crowd of that magnitude and did not implement reasonable safety precautions. It accuses the defendants of failing to ensure sufficient law enforcement presence and crowd monitoring, particularly around high-traffic areas like Union Station.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including compensation for physical and emotional trauma endured by the victims.
Legal and Financial Ramifications
If the court sides with CSU, the Kansas City Sports Commission and other insured parties may have to fund their own legal defenses and potentially pay out damages, should they be found liable in court.
The legal battle over whether insurers are obligated to cover violent incidents like mass shootings under event liability policies is increasingly coming into focus. This case could serve as a precedent for how future insurance disputes involving public event violence are resolved — particularly concerning exclusionary language in standard liability coverage.
It also raises broader questions about how cities and event organizers can balance celebration with public safety, and what role insurance should play when preventable tragedies occur at large-scale public gatherings.