Insurer Asks Fla. Federal Judge to Toss Restaurant’s COVID-19 Coverage Action

TAMPA, Fla. — Great Midwest Insurance Co. has moved to dismiss a restaurant’s COVID-19 business interruption action, arguing that the insured property did not sustain “direct physical loss or damage” as required by the policy.

In a Nov. 2 motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the insurer further argues that Grim Corp. d/b/a Café Gabbiano is not entitled to civil authority coverage because stay-at-home orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic did not completely bar access to the insured premises and were not issued in response to any property damage.

In …