Draskovich v. Richards Bar
Bar SecurityDram Shop
Case Review · Expert Report · Deposition
Outcome: Settled
Case experience: Bar Security · Dram Shop · Security Operations · Bar Operations
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Illinois · Dramshop Act and statutory caps
Illinois Dram Shop Expert Witness
Ryan Dahlstrom accepts expert-witness engagements in Illinois and is retained by attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants. He evaluates alcohol-service practices, bar security, staffing and supervision against hospitality industry standards.
Alcohol Service
Dram Shop and Liquor Liability in Illinois
The Illinois Dramshop Act, 235 ILCS 5/6-21
Illinois liability arises under 235 ILCS 5/6-21, the Dramshop Act. A person injured in person or property by an intoxicated person has a right of action against any licensee who caused the intoxication of that person.
Illinois is structurally different from most dram shop states: the statute does not require proof that the patron appeared visibly intoxicated at the time of service. Causing the intoxication is the operative question, which shifts the evidentiary weight onto service volume, pace and records rather than onto observed behavior.
Recovery is capped. The Dramshop Act's limits are adjusted annually for inflation and published by the Illinois Comptroller — for judgments or settlements on or after 20 January 2026, the cap for injury to person or property is $90,411.55 per person injured, with a separate limit for loss of support or society. Where more than one dramshop is liable the limits apply to their collective liability.
Server training
BASSET — Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training — is the Illinois server training program, administered through the ILCC.
This summary is general information for counsel, not legal advice. Statutes, regulations and case law change; counsel should confirm the law in effect on the date of loss. Ryan Dahlstrom's opinions address operational practices measured against hospitality industry standards; he does not offer opinions on the law.
Evidence
What Ryan Reviews in a Illinois Matter
The evidence set follows the legal standard. Where the statute turns on what was observable, the analysis runs on video, service records and staffing; where it turns on security or premises conditions, it runs on deployment, supervision and incident history.
- POS, tab and sales records establishing volume and pace of service
- BASSET certification records for staff on shift
- Surveillance video across the service period
- Staffing and supervision at the relevant time
- House policy on service limits and cut-offs
- Security staffing and incident response where violence is also pleaded
Selected Engagements
Representative Settled Illinois Matters
Ryan was retained by Pullano & Siporin for the plaintiff in Draskovich v. Richards Bar, Circuit Court of Cook County (2022 L 063072), on bar security and dram shop issues. Case review, expert report and deposition; the matter settled.
Questions
Illinois — Common Questions from Counsel
Does Illinois require proof the patron looked drunk when served?
No. The Dramshop Act asks whether the licensee caused the intoxication. That makes service volume, pace and records central, and makes POS and video evidence particularly important.
Are Illinois dram shop damages capped?
Yes. The statutory limits are adjusted annually for inflation and published by the Illinois Comptroller. Where more than one dramshop is liable, the caps apply to their collective liability.
Can a dram shop claim be paired with a security claim in Illinois?
Frequently. Where an intoxicated patron assaults another, counsel commonly plead both the Dramshop Act and negligent security — service practice and security practice are separate operational failures with separate evidence.
Other Jurisdictions
Expert Witness Services by State
Ryan Dahlstrom accepts expert-witness engagements in all 50 states.
Illinois Matter Under Review?
Submit a case inquiry for a confidential conflicts check and evaluation. Ryan responds to case inquiries within one business day.