Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

NY High Court Sides With Other State Courts: COVID-19 Business Interruption Not Enough to State Claim Under Commercial Property Insurance

By Howard B. Epstein and Theodore A. Keyes
July 01, 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic upended the lives of people throughout the world and continues to have lasting impacts four years later. In addition to the significant and sometimes devastating health issues caused by COVID-19, pandemic-related shutdowns gave rise to considerable economic loss. According to Reuters, COVID-19 caused insured losses of $44 billion in the first two years of the pandemic alone, making the COVID-19 pandemic the third largest event of loss ever — surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11 attacks.

Many businesses have sought to recover their pandemic losses under commercial property insurance policies, only to be denied coverage. A significant number of policyholders have filed lawsuits challenging these disclaimers, primarily in state courts. But to the dismay of the insureds, a growing majority of high state courts have sided with the insurers in these disputes.

In early 2024, the New York Court of Appeals joined this majority, quashing policyholder hopes that the trend would be reversed. On Feb. 15, 2024, New York's highest state court determined that the presence of SARS-Co-V-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) at insured properties and the related cessation and interruption of business activities were not sufficient to state a claim for "direct physical loss or damage" under a property insurance policy.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
How Secure Is the AI System Your Law Firm Is Using? Image

What Law Firms Need to Know Before Trusting AI Systems with Confidential Information In a profession where confidentiality is paramount, failing to address AI security concerns could have disastrous consequences. It is vital that law firms and those in related industries ask the right questions about AI security to protect their clients and their reputation.

COVID-19 and Lease Negotiations: Early Termination Provisions Image

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some tenants were able to negotiate termination agreements with their landlords. But even though a landlord may agree to terminate a lease to regain control of a defaulting tenant's space without costly and lengthy litigation, typically a defaulting tenant that otherwise has no contractual right to terminate its lease will be in a much weaker bargaining position with respect to the conditions for termination.

Pleading Importation: ITC Decisions Highlight Need for Adequate Evidentiary Support Image

The International Trade Commission is empowered to block the importation into the United States of products that infringe U.S. intellectual property rights, In the past, the ITC generally instituted investigations without questioning the importation allegations in the complaint, however in several recent cases, the ITC declined to institute an investigation as to certain proposed respondents due to inadequate pleading of importation.

Authentic Communications Today Increase Success for Value-Driven Clients Image

As the relationship between in-house and outside counsel continues to evolve, lawyers must continue to foster a client-first mindset, offer business-focused solutions, and embrace technology that helps deliver work faster and more efficiently.

The Power of Your Inner Circle: Turning Friends and Social Contacts Into Business Allies Image

Practical strategies to explore doing business with friends and social contacts in a way that respects relationships and maximizes opportunities.