Disease clause requiring damage provides no business interruption cover (Bellini (N/E) Ltd trading as Bellini v Brit UW Ltd)

Table of contents

• What are the practical implications of this case?
• What was the background?
• What did the court decide?
• Case details

Article summary

Insurance & Reinsurance analysis: The court concluded that a disease extension to the business interruption section of an insurance policy did not respond to the circumstances of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While this is a restrictive decision which might appear contrary to the commercial purpose of disease cover, the case has to be considered in the context of the very specific (and somewhat unusual) wording of the policy extension in question. It is thought the decision may be confined to such wording. Written by Louis Zvesper, barrister at Gatehouse.