A federal court in Missouri will now determine whether Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company must provide coverage in connection with the deadly shooting during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally.
The Greater Kansas City Sports Commission bought a $5 mn special event commercial general liability insurance policy to cover the 2024 Super Bowl parade. But Cincinnati Insurance argues the policy doesn’t cover the mass shooting at the event.
On July 22, the insurer filed a complaint for declaratory judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Cincinnati Specialty requests the court clarify its obligations under a commercial general liability policy issued to The Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, a Missouri-based nonprofit.
The policy, number CSU0225122, was active from Feb. 12 to Feb. 17, 2024, with limits of $1 mn per occurrence and $ 5mn aggregate.
Cincinnati contends that the shooting on Feb. 14, 2024, during the Chiefs’ rally, raises disputes over whether it owes defense or indemnity coverage.
A lawsuit filed on June 18, 2025, by Michael Galvan, Marc Lopez-Galvan, and Adriana Lopez-Galvan seeks damages for injuries and the wrongful death of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was killed by gunfire at the rally. Marc Lopez-Galvan also claims injuries from the shooting, which plaintiffs attribute to Dominic Miller, Lyndell Mays, Terry Young, and three unnamed individuals.
The defendants in the civil case include The Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, Union Station Kansas City, Inc., the City of Kansas City, Missouri, O’Neill Events & Marketing, and Flyover Event Co., LLC. Cincinnati’s action focuses on its insurance responsibilities toward these parties.
At the center of the dispute is the policy’s “Assault or Battery” exclusion. According to the insurer, the policy excludes coverage for injuries stemming from actual, threatened, or alleged assault or battery, regardless of who committed the act.
The exclusion also applies to claims related to failure to prevent such acts, provide adequate security, or properly train or supervise individuals involved.
Cincinnati’s filing points out that Union Station and the City of Kansas City were named as additional insureds based on written contracts with the Sports Commission.
However, it argues that any coverage for additional insureds remains subject to all exclusions, including the assault or battery clause. The policy also stipulates that any coverage for these additional insureds would be secondary to other applicable insurance unless otherwise specified in writing.
The insurer is asking the court to declare that it has no duty to defend or indemnify any of the named parties—The Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, Union Station Kansas City, Inc., the City of Kansas City, O’Neill Events & Marketing, Flyover Event Co., or the Galvan plaintiffs—in connection with the claims, losses, or damages in the underlying lawsuit. It also seeks confirmation that it has no obligation to contribute to any potential settlement.
These arguments represent the insurer’s position and are not findings of fact. The court has not yet ruled on the validity of Cincinnati’s interpretation or whether the exclusions cited will eliminate its liability.
This case highlights the legal complexity insurers face when violence occurs at large public events. Its outcome may influence how carriers assess risk and write exclusions for future policies covering mass gatherings.
Incident Overview: Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Rally Shooting
On February 14, 2024, a mass shooting occurred during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally at Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The event had drawn tens of thousands of attendees, including families and children, celebrating the Chiefs’ NFL championship win.
Gunfire broke out near the stage shortly after the rally concluded. The shooting resulted in the death of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio DJ and community figure. Several others sustained gunshot injuries, including Marc Lopez-Galvan. Emergency responders evacuated the scene, and authorities launched an immediate investigation.
Prosecutors later named multiple suspects in the case: Dominic Miller, Lyndell Mays, Terry Young, and three unnamed individuals referred to as John Does.
According to the underlying civil suit, these individuals are accused of initiating or participating in the shooting. The plaintiffs allege that the incident could have been prevented with proper planning and security measures.
In the aftermath, the victims’ families filed a lawsuit on June 18, 2025, seeking damages for wrongful death and bodily injuries.
The defendants in that lawsuit include The Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, Union Station Kansas City, Inc., the City of Kansas City, Missouri, O’Neill Events & Marketing, and Flyover Event Co., LLC—organizations involved in organizing or hosting the rally.
The incident has prompted broader public and industry discussions on event security, liability exposure, and insurance coverage for large public gatherings.
