Miss. Federal Judge Dismisses Burger Joint’s COVID-19 Coverage Action

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A Mississippi federal judge has dismissed a burger restaurant’s COVID-19 coverage action, finding it did not sustain “direct physical loss or damage” as required by the policy, issued by Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America.

In a Nov. 4 order, Judge Keith Starrett of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi concluded that the policy does not afford coverage because the restaurant was not “permanently dispossessed of any insured property.”

Real Hospitality, LLC, d/b/a Ed’s Burger Joint says that in late March, it was forced to temporarily close its premises, suspend business operations and …