Court Rejects Plaintiffs’ Argument That Policy Covered Loss of Full Use of Premises Due to COVID-19-Related Shutdowns and Grants Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court granted defendant insurer’s motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ claims. The court found the plaintiffs, which operated restaurant and bar facilities in Ohio but had to suspend operations because of the pandemic, did not meet the precondition of “direct physical loss of or damage to” the covered property requirement. Further, the microorganism exclusion precluded coverage of losses.
Court Dismisses Plaintiff’s COVID-19-Related Suit, Noting Claimed Loss of Use of Properties Is Not Direct Physical Loss Under the Relevant Policy
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, a federal court granted the defendant insurer’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s suit over coverage, finding plaintiff’s claim for loss of income based on state orders restricting use does not meet “direct physical loss” prerequisite.
Court Finds Insurance Policies Are Not Ambiguous as to ‘Physical Loss’ Requirement and Dismisses Plaintiffs’ COVID-19-Related Damages Claims
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court grants the defendant insurance company’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint seeking coverage for lost business income under their insurance policies. Plaintiffs operated a hotel and adjacent banquet and catering facility. In ruling against the plaintiffs, the court found the virus did not perceptibly harm the properties and the policies included a virus exclusion that prevented coverage of business losses.
Family Tacos, LLC v. Auto Owners Ins. Co.
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court grants motions of the defendant to dismiss claims of the plaintiff. The plaintiff files claims for coverage under its insurance policy for losses resulting from COVID-19 shutdowns and seeks to establish a class. The court decides that coverage is not provided under the policy because there is no physical loss; the civil authority provision is likewise not effective, and there is a virus exception that is applicable to the case at hand.
MIKMAR, Inc. v. Westfield Ins. Co.
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court grants the defendant insurance company’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint seeking coverage for lost business income under their insurance policies. Plaintiffs operated a hotel and adjacent banquet and catering facility. In ruling against the plaintiffs, the court found the virus did not perceptibly harm the properties and the policies included a virus exclusion that prevented coverage of business losses.
Plaintiff Fails to Convince the Court That Physical Loss or Physical Damage Has Occurred; Virus Clause Applies and Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Is Granted
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court grants motions of the defendant to dismiss claims of the plaintiff. The plaintiff files claims for coverage under its insurance policy for losses resulting from COVID-19 shutdowns and seeks to establish a class. The court decides that coverage is not provided under the policy because there is no physical loss; the civil authority provision is likewise not effective, and there is a virus exception that is applicable to the case at hand.
Torgerson Props. v. Cont’l Cas. Co.
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, a federal court granted the defendant insurer’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s suit over coverage, finding plaintiff’s claim for loss of income based on state orders restricting use does not meet “direct physical loss” prerequisite.
Court Says Plaintiff Fails to State Plausible Claim to Relief for COVID-19-Related Losses but Allows Amendment of Complaint
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court says the plaintiff, a California restaurant, failed to state plausible claims to relief but gives plaintiff an opportunity to amend its complaint, even if “it does not seem likely” the plaintiff will be able to overcome the complaint’s deficiencies.
Protégé Rest. Partners LLC v. Sentinel Ins. Co.
In this business interruption case resulting from mandatory shutdowns to control COVID-19, the court says the plaintiff, a California restaurant, failed to state plausible claims to relief but gives plaintiff an opportunity to amend its complaint, even if “it does not seem likely” the plaintiff will be able to overcome the complaint’s deficiencies.
Choose Your Client Wisely in a Bankruptcy Engagement
Robert Reilly (Willamette Management Associates) and Josh Shilts (Shilts CPA) conducted an informative session on valuations for bankruptcy at the AICPA FVS Conference.
BVU News and Trends January 2021
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
New guidance issued on the Payroll Protection Plan
During a recent BVR webinar, speakers report that many business owners will claim their Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans will be 100% forgiven.
What the New Subchapter V in Bankruptcy Means to Business Valuers
Michael D. Pakter (a managing member at Gould & Pakter Associates LLC in Chicago) discusses the new niche subchapter of the Bankruptcy Code that creates an easier and less expensive path for small businesses to reorganize and survive.
Global BVU News and Trends December 2020
Business valuation news from a global perspective.
Restaurant Valuation: Serving Your Clients During the Covid-19 Crisis
Few industries have been as harshly impacted by COVID-19 as the restaurant industry. Join Lynton Kotzin for an overview of the state of the restaurant industry and what the future looks like for different restaurant types. Learn the reasonableness test, value drivers, and proper application of the approaches during these volatile times. Be ready to advise and value your restaurant clients.
Physician Compensation and Valuation: Administering Top Tier Treatment
Assessing physician compensation is a critical component in valuing a physician practice. Many external factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, have had and will continue to have significant impacts on physician compensation and associated practice valuations. In this discussion, Derek Long and Katie Culver will explain how physician compensation is analyzed in the context of valuation along with various factors that can influence it, both internally and ...
BVR featured in ABA podcast on divorce valuations
BVWire editors Sylvia Golden and Andy Dzamba joined moderator Tom Urquhart at the American Bar Association on a podcast to discuss Business Valuation in Divorce: A Case Compendium, a book co-published by BVR and the ABA.
Global BV News: Spotlight on pharma firms in KPMG’s 4Q20 valuation brief
COVID-19 continues to dominate a lot of the discussion in KPMG’s Quarterly Brief—International Valuation Newsletter for the fourth quarter of 2020.
AICPA urges Congress to act on PPP-related deductions
New guidance from the IRS says that, if a business “reasonably believes” that its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan will be forgiven, the costs related to that loan are not deductible.
D&P enhances infographic on cost of capital
Duff & Phelps has updated its infographic, “Cost of Capital in the Current Environment,” and has enhanced it with new data on the eurozone.
Does COVID-19 alter the Companies Act, or the value of minority shares?
All business valuers accept the fact that minority shares hold discounted value.
Attorneys and Valuers Link Up at AAML/BVR Virtual Divorce Conference
Coverage of several sessions that include tips on managing client expectations in uncertain times and the new “abnormal” with respect to executive compensation.
Estimating a COVID-19 Marketability Discount for Small Businesses
A framework of thinking for developing a marketability discount for a majority interest on a small business in the wake of the pandemic.
BVU News and Trends November 2020
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Global BVU News and Trends November 2020
Business valuation news from a global perspective.