MENTOR, Ohio — A Mentor bridal store is joining a class-action lawsuit against insurance companies for denial of business interruption claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bridal Expression is suing Owners Insurance Company for not allowing them to use the insurance coverage they bought for this situation.
“Businesses nationwide have, for years, purchased expensive insurance policies to protect them from losses exactly like those they are currently enduring,” said Adam Levitt, co-counsel to the plaintiffs’ and a partner at DiCello Levitt Gutzler. “For many small business owners trying to provide for their families and employees, this type of insurance coverage was an additional expense that they would have preferred not to carry but felt a responsibility to do so. For insurers to now tell them, in the most challenging of times, that the joke was on them and their policies were worthless, is unethical and abhorrent.”
Each of the six lawsuits claim that the businesses purchased special property insurance coverage to protect against business interruptions or disruptions outside of their control. These policies allegedly include business income coverage, which promises to pay for losses due to necessary suspension of operations.
The lawsuits have been filed against Aspen American Insurance, Auto-Owners Insurance, Lloyd’s of London, Society Insurance, Oregon Mutual Insurance, and Topa Insurance Company
Other plaintiffs include a San Diego restaurant, a Wisconsin bakery, a Minnesota restaurant chain, a Minnesota dental practice, a Washington restaurant and a New York restaurant group.
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