After issuing the insureds' summary judgment motion that COVID-19 invasion of the insureds' property constituted "direct physical loss or damage to property," the New Hampshire Superior Court granted the insurers' motion for an interlocutory appeal. Schleicher & Stebbins Hotels, LLC, et al. v. Starr Surplus Lines Ins Co, et al., No. 217-2020-CV-000309
Business Interruption
New York Court Denies Injunction to Prevent Out-of-State Suit
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court refused to grant an injunction to the insurer to prevent a pending suit in Washington state. North Am. Elite Ins. Co. v. Space Needle, LLC, 2021 N.Y. LEXIS 6792(N.Y. App. Div. Dec. 2, 2021).
In 2019 Seattle based Space Needle, LLC procured a…
Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment on COVID-19 Claim Denied, Case Set for Trial
The Ohio Court of Common Pleas granted the insured's motion for summary judgment, denied the insurer's motion for summary judgment and and set the COVID-19, business interruption case for trial on damages. McKinley Dev. Leasing Co. v. Westfield Ins. Co., 2021 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 885 (Ohio Ct. Pleas Nov. 14, 2021).
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Insurer’s Motion to Dismiss Business Interruption, COVID-19 Claims Under Pollution Policy Fails
The insurer was unsuccessful in seeking to dismiss business interruption claims due to COVID-19 under a pollution policy. New York Botanical Garden v. Allied World Assur., 2021 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 6012 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Oct.15, 2021).
The insured was forced to cease operations after executive orders by the governor and…
California Court of Appeal Shoots Down COVID-19 Business Interruption Claim
The California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the insured's business interruption claim based upon COVID-19 government shutdown orders. The Inns by the Sea v. California Mut. Ins. Co., 2021 Cal. App. LEXIS 956 (Calif. Ct. App. Nov. 15, 2021). The Inns is the first state appellate court decision…
Law Firm’s Business Income, Civil Authority Claim Due to Hurricanes Survives Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment
The insurer was unsuccessful in moving for summary judgment on the insured's claim for loss of business income and civil authority coverage due to losses caused by two hurricanes. Townsley v. Ohio Security Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202698 (W.D. La. Oct. 20, 2021).
Hurricane Laura struck southeast Louisiana…
Insurer’s Motion to Dismiss COVID-19 Business Interruption Claim Denied
Determining that government shutdown orders during the pandemic were a physical cause of loss and finding the virus exclusion ambiguous, the court denied the insurer's motion to dismiss. Risinger Holdings v. Sentinel Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 192474 (D. E.D. Texas Sept. 30, 2021).
Risinger owed several orthodontic practices. It held a policy…
Missouri Federal District Court Denies, In Part, Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment on COVID-19 Claims
The federal district court denied the insurer's motion for summary judgment to dismiss the restaurant's business interruption claim because expert testimony created a factual issue on whether COVID virus particles had actually contaminated the insured's property. K.C. Hopps v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179633 (W.D. Mo. Sept. 21, 2021).…
Court Finds Possible Sliver of Coverage for COVID-19 Claim
The court granted the insurer's motion for judgment on the pleadings, in part, but left the door open for the insured to pursue claims under two provisions in the policy. Monarch Casino & Resort v. Affiliated FM Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179812 (D. Colo. Sept. 17, 2021).
Monarch…
Portion of COVID-19 Claim Survives Motion to Dismiss
While the insured failed to demonstrate direct physical loss, Crisis Event coverage was still possible. SJP Investment Partners LLC v. Cincinnati Insurance Company, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 162612 (N.D. Ala. Aug. 27, 2021).
The insured owned a hotel in Birmingham. The state's public health orders limited operations and caused temporarily…