Insurance Trade Groups Ask 4th Circuit to Reject COVID Lawsuits

Two insurance company trade groups have weighed in on the debate over whether businesses are entitled to coverage following losses resulting from pandemic-related shutdown orders. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies asked the Fourth Circuit to reject a lawsuit filed by Skillets LLC, saying that none of the restaurant chain’s nine southwest Florida locations suffered any physical damage.

Skillets is represented by Tim Burns and Brian Cawley of Burns Bowen Bair LLP, Lisa S. Brook and Kyle McNew of MichieHamlett PLLC, Adam J. Levitt and Kenneth Abbarno of DiCello Levitt Gutzler LLC, and W. Mark Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm PC.

The APCIA and NAMIC have been hear before, previously asking the Eleventh and Seventh circuits to uphold Aspen Specialty Insurance Co.’s and Cincinnati Insurance Co.’s wins over retailer Rooms To Go and a steak house owner, respectively.

The full story can be found at Law360.