Society Asks Judge To Toss Bad Faith Claims In Virus MDL

An Illinois federal judge has been asked by Society Insurance Co. to throw out all bad faith claims it’s currently facing in pandemic business-interruption multidistrict litigation, despite claims it issued a blanket coverage denial over COVID-19 losses.

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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.

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CA Nightclub Asks 9th Circuit for COVID Coverage

Caribe Restaurant & Nightclub in Bonita, California, has told the Ninth Circuit that losses stemming from pandemic-related shutdown orders caused physical loss and damage, thus making it eligible for coverage under its insurance policy with Topa Insurance. Co.

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Colony Urges 4th Circ. to Deny Skillets in COVID Coverage Fight

Colony Insurance Co. has asked the Fourth Circuit not to revive the Skillets restaurant chain’s suit over losses suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The insurer claims that the eateries’ properties suffered no physical damage so the company was not denied coverage.

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Federal Judge Rules Against Dentist, Restaurants in Virus Coverage Suits

Two COVID-19 coverage suits were dismissed on Tuesday when a federal judge in Texas ruled that a Minnesota dentist and Texas restaurant group failed to show they had suffered physical damage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Rochester Diocese Calls $35M Settlement Deal Vital to Reorganization

The Diocese of Rochester has asked a New York bankruptcy judge to overrule objections filed by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors to a $35 million settlement with one of its insurers. The settlement would provide coverage for claims that the Diocese failed to prevent sexual abuse. The Diocese says this deal is an important first step in their Chapter 11 reorganization plan, while the Committee has called it “low value” and unacceptable.

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Major League Soccer Team Files Lawsuit for COVID-19 Business Losses

The Philadelphia Union professional soccer team is suing its insurers for refusing to pay claims for business losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Insurer Claims COVID Modifications Are Actually an Improvement

Continental Casualty Co. is arguing that a salon’s modifications to its building in response to the COVID-19 pandemic does not constitute physical loss or damage, but an improvement to its business.

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U.S. District Judge Denies Insurance Carrier’s Bid for Appeal

A U.S. district judge has refused Society Insurance Co.’s bid for an appeal concerning coverage claims resulting from pandemic-related shutdowns. The insurance company has been accused of issuing blanket denials to clients seeking relief in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Florida Restaurants Seek Relief from Fourth Circuit

A Florida chain of family-owned restaurants is asking the Fourth Circuit to take up its case, giving it another chance to obtain coverage after state efforts aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 forced them to halt all in-person dining.

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