I'm Sam Johnson. I work with restaurants, bars, breweries and cafés from Monrovia to Pasadena, whether you've run your place for years, are opening a new one, or are taking over an existing restaurant.
What does my place need?RestaurantBarBreweryCafé
As featured in Pasadena Weekly · Independent, family-owned since 1988 · CA License #4536079
A note from Sam
“I'm not here to sell you something; I'm here to take care of you.”
Before we ever talk about a policy, I'd love to buy you lunch and hear your story: how you started, what you're building, and what keeps you up at night.
Pick the place. Bring the questions.
— Sam
Six questions · about a minute
Tap your answers and your coverage list builds itself. Then text it to me and we'll go over it at lunch. Nothing gets saved or sent unless you hit send.
Answer the questions and your list shows up here.
Guest injuries and “your food made me sick” claims.
Your equipment, contents and buildout, plus the building if you own it.
Required in California once you have even one employee.4
General liability usually doesn't cover alcohol-related claims.2
A starting point, not a quote or a coverage decision. What a policy covers depends on its actual wording.
What could go wrong?
The same few things go wrong in restaurants again and again. Here's which coverage usually responds and where the gaps are.
Someone goes down by the bus station on a Friday night, hurts a wrist and later sues.
Usually respondsGeneral liability
Watch outIf it's your server who slips, that's a workers' comp claim, not general liability.9
The hood catches, the line is ruined, and you're closed for weeks while it's repaired.
Usually respondsProperty + business income
Watch outLost income is its own coverage, with its own limit and waiting period. Know those numbers before you need them.
An obviously drunk guest gets another round, drives off and hurts someone.
Usually respondsLiquor liability
Watch outGeneral liability usually doesn't cover alcohol-related claims.2 In California, serving an obviously intoxicated person is a misdemeanor. Sellers are generally shielded from civil suits over what an intoxicated adult does,7 but not when the guest is an obviously intoxicated minor.8 And being shielded doesn't stop someone from suing, so you still need a defense.
The power goes out or the compressor quits, and a week of product is warm by morning.
Usually respondsSpoilage / equipment breakdown
Watch outThis is usually an add-on (endorsement) to your property policy or BOP, not automatic.2
A fryer accident means a hospital visit and weeks off the line.
Usually respondsWorkers' comp
Watch outIn California this is required once you have one employee, part-time included.4 Going without can bring a stop order, a $1,500 penalty per uninsured employee,6 and a misdemeanor charge.5
A customer gets sick after dinner and blames the kitchen.
Usually respondsGeneral liability (products)
Watch outProduct liability is typically part of general liability. Spoiled inventory is a separate property coverage.2
Your driver rear-ends someone on the way to a catering drop.
Usually respondsCommercial auto or hired & non-owned auto
Watch outCommercial auto is for vehicles the business owns. If staff drive their own cars for work, ask about hired and non-owned auto.2
A server you let go claims it was wrongful termination.
Usually respondsEmployment practices liability (EPLI)
Watch outEPLI pays legal costs when an employee alleges wrongful termination or a similar violation.2 General liability isn't built for this.
General examples, not promises of coverage. Every claim depends on the facts and on your policy's wording. Have a what-if of your own? Text it to me and I'll tell you how your policy would handle it.
Before insurance
“After a collegiate football career that spanned Alabama, Valparaiso and USC, Johnson now serves clients across the San Gabriel Valley as an insurance account executive.”
Pasadena Weekly · Read the story →
Bring these to lunch
You don't need all of it. Bring what you have and we'll fill in the rest.
Insurance words, translated
The most a policy pays for one claim, and the most it pays in total for the policy period. Often written as $1M / $2M.1
The part of a covered loss you pay before the insurance pays.
A package that bundles general liability and property, often with business income.2
An add-on that changes a policy, like adding spoilage coverage.
A one-page proof of coverage that landlords, event venues and vendors ask for.
Someone else, often your landlord, added to your policy for claims tied to your operations.
Laws about a seller's liability for serving alcohol. California's are in Business & Professions Code §25602 and §25602.1.7
Questions owners ask me
Yes. I work with owners opening a new restaurant and owners taking over an existing one, including programs built for new restaurants.
Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. My office is at 101 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 105, in Monrovia.
Most restaurants, bars, breweries and cafés look at general liability, liquor liability if they serve alcohol, property, and workers' comp for their staff. I'll help you figure out what fits your place.
Yes, if you have even one employee, part-time included.4 California law requires every employer to carry workers' compensation, and going without it can bring stop orders, penalties and criminal charges.5,6
Usually not. General liability usually doesn't cover alcohol-related incidents, which is why restaurants, bars and breweries that serve beer, wine or spirits look at liquor liability.2
Yes, in some cases. California’s statute makes a licensee liable for serving an obviously intoxicated minor,8 and the state ABC notes that negligent or reckless service can still lead to a lawsuit under common law, whatever the guest’s age.10 That’s the kind of claim liquor liability is built for.
Call or text me at 626-799-7813, or email sam@smmainsurance.com. And yes, I'd love to buy you lunch and hear your story.
Call or text
626-799-7813Text me instead →sam@smmainsurance.com
Shaw, Moses, Mendenhall & Associates Insurance
101 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 105
Monrovia, CA 91016
Sam Johnson, Account Executive
CA License #4536079
LinkedIn