Chicago restaurant files COVID-19 related business insurance lawsuit

Rutter & Russin, LLC partners with Romanucci & Blandin, LLC to represent Chicago restaurant in COVID-19 insurance coverage dispute

Maillard Tavern, a popular Chicago restaurant ordered shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, has filed a lawsuit against its insurance company seeking to recover its business income losses. The restaurant is represented by Romanucci & Blandin, LLC of Chicago, a nationally respected personal injury law firm, Rutter & Russin, LLC of Cleveland, a firm that represents policyholders in insurance coverage disputes, and Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber, LLP, with vast experience in handling mass tort claims and class action lawsuits.

The suit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Illinois on April 14, 2020, and seeks enforcement of Maillard’s rights under its insurance policy with Society Insurance, which provided the restaurant with business interruption insurance.

The State of Illinois shuttered restaurants, bars, and movie theaters on March 15, 2020 as an emergency measure to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus. A few days later, the governor expanded the order and closed all non-essential businesses.

Maillard turned to Society Insurance to recoup its business losses, but was rebuffed.

“We are seeing many insurance companies deny these pandemic-related claims, which is not only disturbing but downright wrong. Almost all business insurance policies include business interruption coverage, providing compensation if your business is halted or significantly slowed by a covered act and sustains damages,” said Bobby Rutter, Partner with Rutter & Russin, LLC.

Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo, the co-owners of Maillard Tavern, said, "We have lost our livelihoods and our ability to pay our valued employees, our vendors and our rent. As responsible business owners, we paid our business insurance premiums but have been denied the benefits of that policy when we need it most. This problem is not just about our company, this is an industry-wide problem that could crush our economy and community if all of the restaurants, retailers and other businesses lose the safety net we depended on from insurance."

Learn more about how Rutter & Russin's attorneys are fighting COVID-19 business interruption insurance claim denials.