Now that winter is over and the weather is getting nice, we start to do what most Michiganders enjoy, having parties, graduations, bar-b-ques, etc. So you set your guest list and make the calls to everyone so they can share in the fun. A few guests that you may have overlooked just may come and ruin all of your hard work and effort. I’m speaking of Salmonella, E. coli Enteritis, Listeria, and Staphylococcus to just name a few. These are all food poisonings that party goers suffer from yearly, affecting thousands. Did you realize some of these illnesses can cause death? If someone gets sick at your get together, you can be held responsible. Something so small can come back and bite you big! Did you do everything in your power to keep the food at the proper temperature? Was it washed and protected from any nearby contamination? People that have allergies to peanuts can become severely sick and possibly die because of the reaction. These are all questions most of us would not even think of answering until someone brought a lawsuit against you to recover their hospital bills and treatment. Not only is food a possible risk, what about alcohol, trip and fall, or anything that you can be held liable for? Think of all the possibilities. I’m not trying to scare you or discourage anyone from planning a function, I enjoy them myself. But keep these things in mind when planning. You also need to ask yourself if your Homeowners liability limit is sufficient enough to cover any claims. It depends on the number and severity of the situation. If you haven’t checked it lately, we would be glad to look over your coverage and show you ways to protect yourself. You may want to consider an umbrella policy to back up your current coverage. For a few dollars a month up front, it could save you thousands or even millions in the long run.