On June 2-3, the American Bar Association will host attorneys for policyholders and insurance companies who will break down what to expect in future policy provisions as a result of Covid-19 claims and decisions. This webinar will review key coverage issues and arguments being advanced and challenged by policyholders and insurers in the ongoing saga of Covid-19 business interruption litigation.
One of the peculiar aspects of the Covid-19 business income litigation has been the increased number of attorneys advertising as having specialized knowledge of insurance coverage experience who I have never heard of before the pandemic. I must not be the only person noticing this because the legal conference includes an ethics discussion led by Judge Rex Barbas and veteran property insurance defense attorney Doug Berry who will explore the ethical issues of inexperienced or newer attorneys attempting to litigate these claims without any prior experience in property insurance. They will focus on how this may violate Rule 3.3 of the Rules of Professional Responsibility.
Merlin Law Group attorneys Amy Currotto and Anthony Orlando will participate. They will be speaking in a panel alongside attorneys and judges across the country on challenges litigators and underwriters face relating to Covid-19 Insurance coverage claims. Currotto is also a Vice Chair of the ABA’s Property Insurance Coverage Subcommittee.
ISO documents previously withheld to the public are becoming produced and argued about in cases. I am certain that this recent argument made at a summary judgment hearing will be discussed because insurance company attorneys are afraid of them and policyholder attorneys are hopeful that they will explain the intent and motive behind the ISO virus exclusion:
I think an insured would have a reasonable expectation of coverage if ordered to cease business by government authority. And we just would like to highlight that for the Court because again, that’s consistent with what we’ve alleged in this case, and it also demonstrates why discovery is necessary of this case at this stage and that the summary judgment motion is premature.
This insurance coverage conference kicks off on June 2nd, 2021, on a virtual platform, allowing guests to attend from the comfort of their home or office computer. Here is a link to it.
