Philly Salon Owner Loses Bid for COVID-19 Business Interruption Coverage

PHILADELPHIA — A policy’s virus exclusion bars the owner of six Philadelphia hair salons from recovering COVID-19 business interruption losses from Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, a Pennsylvania federal judge has ruled.

In a Nov. 30 order, Judge Freda Wolfson awarded the insurer judgment on the pleadings, ruling that the exclusion applies to Topper Salon & Health Spa Inc.’s claims for continuing expenses.

Toppers was forced to temporarily close in March in compliance with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s order closing all non-essential businesses in an attempt to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Toppers turned to Travelers …