Sentinel Urges Calif. Federal Judge to Dismiss Salon’s Amended COVID-19 Complaint

SAN FRANCISCO — Sentinel Insurance Ltd. is urging a California federal judge to dismiss a salon’s amended complaint in a lawsuit seeking COVID-19-related business interruption coverage, arguing that the alleged losses fall within the policy’s virus exclusion.

In its Oct. 27 motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Sentinel argues that Franklin EWC Inc. has repeatedly alleged that its losses were caused by the COVID-19 virus.

Franklin EWC Inc., which owns a European Wax Center franchise in Fresno, Calif., sued Hartford Financial Services Group (HFSG) and its subsidiary, Sentinel, contending that its business …