Business interruption insurance is intended to cover income lost because ordinary operations are disrupted (typically by a natural disaster, but also because of government action in some cases). Has anything in recent memory been more disruptive to business operations than COVID-19? Business interruption is an optional extra added on to casualty insurance (your commercial general liability policy, property damage coverage, etc.). If you do not know whether you have it, you should probably stop reading now, and go check. While you are checking, look to see whether you have endorsements or riders specifically covering communicable diseases. Your business interruption policy …

As virtually all Ohio residents and business owners know, Dr. Amy Acton, the Director of Ohio’s Department of Health, issued a “Stay at Home Order” on March 22, 2020, and issued an amended and extended Stay at Home Order through May 1, 2020, on April 2, 2020. Dr. Acton’s Order requires “all businesses and operations” in Ohio to cease all activities except “Minimum Basic Operations” unless the business activities consist only of employees working from home. The Order permits “Essential Businesses and Operations” to continue – with requirements relating to social distancing to protect employees and patrons. The Order prompted …