Calif. Sports Bar Says COVID-19 Orders Caused Insured Physical Damage

SANTA ANA, Calif. — The owner of a Long Beach, Calif., sports bar has sued The Hartford in federal court, seeking a ruling that business interruption losses arising from civil authority orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are covered under its policy.

In a June 10 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, RoundIn3rd Sports Bar LLC says the orders constitute a prohibition of access to its property, triggering coverage, and that the loss is not excluded under the policy.

The Hartford denied plaintiff’s claim, asserting that the restaurant did not suffer …