Miss. Restaurant Hits State Auto With COVID-19 Coverage Class Action

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A Mississippi restaurant has filed a class action against State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Co., demanding coverage for business interruption losses arising from property damage caused by COVID-19 and related civil authority orders.

In a May 8 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Big Tomato LLC, d/b/a Tabella asserts the State Auto policies do not include an exclusion for losses, business or property caused by a virus or global pandemic.

“Plaintiff and all similarly situated Class Members have suffered a direct physical loss of and damage to their …