CT Supreme Court sides with Insurer on Pandemic-related Property Insurance Claims, Hartford Business Journal, Patrick Kennell quoted, 2-20-2023

Tens of thousands of companies claimed they lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of government-mandated shutdowns or other interruptions in business related to the public health crisis, and sought compensation through their property insurance policies. When their claims were denied, more than a thousand businesses filed lawsuits against their insurers. Years later some of those legal challenges are still ongoing, but companies hoping for a legal victory against — and payout from — their insurer suffered a major blow in Connecticut in recent weeks. (see Read More for full article)

“The question at the core of both decisions is whether the virus itself causes physical damage to property,” said Patrick Kennell, a partner with New York-based law firm Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck. “It has been clear throughout the country that, in almost all cases, the courts have said now that there’s no damage just by the presence, or fear of the presence, of the virus.”

Read more at the full article.