Covid-19 News

Medical Costs for Injured Workers in Delaware Fell During Pandemic: WCRI Study

Changes in the availability of medical services during the pandemic was one of the drivers of Delaware workers’ compensation claims costs in 2020 and 2021. A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that total costs per …

Calif. Appellate Ct. Revives Suit Seeking Coverage for Income Lost During COVID Shutdown

A California appellate court ruled again Monday that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause direct physical loss or damage to property, notching a rare policyholder for a real estate business seeking coverage for business income lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic. …

New Jersey Supreme Court to Rule on Pandemic-Related Insurance Exclusions

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey`s Supreme Court is expected to consider whether an Atlantic City casino can get payouts from business interruption insurance for losses during the COVID-19 outbreak, potentially providing guidance for policyholders nationwide regarding the scope of …

Ariz. Appellate Court Upholds Death Benefits for Widow of Worker Killed by COVID

The widow of an Arizona worker who died after contracting COVID-19 from a co-worker suffered a workplace “accident” that is compensable under the state’s workers’ compensation law, a panel of the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. In a 3-0 …

Amicus Briefs Piling Up as Calif. High Court Mulls Coverage for COVID-19 Shutdowns

Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Lakers and Ross Stores are among 10 parties that have filed amicus briefs as the California Supreme Court ponders whether the virus that causes COVID-19 can cause direct physical damage or loss to property. …

Calif. Supreme Ct., Warning of Litigation ‘Deluge,’ Rejects Take-Home COVID Claims

An employer owed no duty of care to the wife of an employee who was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 that was carried home from the workplace by her husband, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a unanimous decision, the …

Viewpoint: COVID-19 Not a Disability Under N.J. Discrimination Law

In what appears to be the first time, the New Jersey Appellate Division considered whether contracting COVID-19 or exhibiting its symptoms is sufficient for an employee to claim they qualify as an individual with a disability or a perceived disability …

Theater Owner and Insurer Agree to Drop Litigation over COVID Claims

An owner of Broadway theaters and Pacific Indemnity Insurance Co. have voluntarily agreed to end their remaining litigation over COVID-19 coverage claims. Under the stipulation filed May 11, each party will bear its own attorneys’ fees and other costs. The …

N.H. Supreme Court Rejects Cat Urine Analogy for COVID Claim

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has overturned a trial court that had found for a group of 23 hotels claiming they were entitled to insurance payments for business interruption losses caused by contamination of their properties by COVID-19. Agreeing with …

WSJ: Hedge Funds Investing in COVID Business-Interruption Claims

Multiple hedge funds are making long shot bets on COVID-19 business-interruption claims, despite a long string of losses in state and federal courts, according to a report by Wall Street Journal. The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported Thursday that Avenue …