Puerto Rican Seafood Wholesaler’s Lost Inventory Not Covered, Federal Judge Rules

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A seafood wholesaler’s COVID-19-related inventory loss is not covered under a policy’s civil authority provision because government orders restricting the operations of its customers were not directed toward the insured product itself, a Puerto Rico federal judge has ruled.

On May 24, Judge Francisco A. Besosa of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico further ruled that the losses fall within exclusions in the policy issued by Guardian Insurance Company Inc.

In early 2020, Northwestern Selecta imported more than $1 million worth of seafood product and properly stored it in its warehouse …