When a loss event badly damages a key piece of equipment or machinery, an insured business often faces the complicated question: repair or replace? This is especially so when the extent of the damage is unclear because some may still be hidden. A business presented with this dilemma is well advised to go through that … Continue Reading
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, businesses across the country were forced to shut their doors and turn to their commercial property insurance companies to seek coverage. With their properties having been rendered useless for their intended (and insured) business purposes, these insureds reasonably expected their “all risk” policies would provide the promised … Continue Reading
The United Kingdom Supreme Court (UKSC) handed down its judgment on 15 January 2021 in The Financial Conduct Authority v. Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Others. This test case was brought by the FCA on behalf of SME business interruption (BI) policyholders who have suffered financial losses as a result of COVID-19. The High Court … Continue Reading
A concert promoter cancels a sold-out show of a world-renowned recording artist, reimbursing millions of dollars in ticket sales as a result. If the reason for the cancellation was COVID-19, does insurance cover that? Event Cancellation Insurance Basics Event cancellation insurance generally provides coverage only when there has been a triggering event under the policy. … Continue Reading
Reed Smith Insurance Recovery partners John Shugrue, John Ellison, Amber Finch, Richard Lewis, and Matthew Weaver offer discussion and analysis on key issues relevant to businesses seeking, or evaluating whether to seek, coverage for COVID-19 losses. This webinar is available on demand and you can register here. Here’s a brief summary of the topics addressed in … Continue Reading
Purchasing insurance for a cannabusiness can feel like a daunting task, but it does not have to be one. In addition to grappling with many of the same issues and questions that any business confronts when seeking insurance, a cannabusiness encounters certain additional, unique challenges due to the industry in which it operates. That is … Continue Reading
We recently marked the two year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. With that anniversary came an influx of litigation in response to insurance companies denying or overly limiting coverage. That litigation recently revealed highly questionable practices within the industry.… Continue Reading
The Buffalo, New York area has been devastated with record level snowfalls causing widespread damage. Now that the snow has stopped falling, warmer weather and potentially heavy rainfall may cause flooding and will likely exacerbate the losses being experienced. This will complicate insurance claims because policyholders will inevitably face pushback from insurance companies regarding the extent of damage from the snowstorms versus subsequent flooding.… Continue Reading
Can policyholders expect coverage for loss of Business Income if (1) they must close their business and decontaminate it after the property is exposed to persons with the Ebola virus or (2) civil authorities prohibit access to their property because of such exposure?… Continue Reading