Miss. Federal Judge Remands Pizza Joint’s COVID-19 Coverage Action, Says Amount-In-Controversy Not Met

ABERDEEN, Miss. — A Mississippi federal judge has remanded a pizza restaurant’s COVID-19 business interruption coverage action against Tri-State Insurance Company of Minnesota, ruling that the amount-in-controversy requirement has not been met.

In an Oct. 20 order, Judge Sharion Aycock of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi found the complaint clearly states that M.B.S. Tupelo, LLC dba Old Venice Pizza Company is not seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

“In fact, the Plaintiff specifically stipulates that it will agree to a remitter if it is awarded an amount greater than $75,000,” the judge noted. “Therefore, …