Minn. Eatery Says Society Insurance Failed to Investigate COVID-19 Claim

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota restaurant has sued Society Insurance Co., accusing the insurer of issuing a blanket denial of the eatery’s COVID-19 business loss claim without conducting any meaningful investigation, let alone a “reasonable investigation based on all available information” as required under state law.

In an April 27 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Lucy’s Burgers LLC says the insurer has asserted that “the actual or alleged presence of the coronavirus,” which led to the government’s closure orders barring the restaurant from operating does not constitute “direct physical loss.”

“Defendant’s conclusory …