Law firm launches group action against Hiscox and RSA for rejected Covid-19 BI claims

Specialist insurance law firm Edwin Coe has launched two new group claims against insurers Hiscox and RSA regarding rejected business interruption (BI) claims linked to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Hiscox claim, progressing under the name of the Hiscox Business Interruption Group, is being delivered in conjunction with Roger Topping, managing director at Claims Equilibrium Club – a loss recovery company.

The RSA claim regards a group of holiday let cottage business owners.

These new group claims follow Edwin Coe spearheading claims for business interruption losses against  Allianz Insurance earlier this month, in conjunction with insurance claim consultancy Harris Balcombe.

Roger Franklin, head of insurance litigation at Edwin Coe, said: “While it is correct that a lot of commercial insurance policies do not provide cover for losses caused by Covid-19, a lot of them do. Hiscox is one such example.

“Unfortunately, in many cases claims have been denied because of arguments based on ambiguous policy wordings and weak legal precedent.

“We aim to challenge those arguments as quickly and cost effectively as possible so that businesses can survive in these trying times.

“Businesses purchase insurance to give them some protection in times of crisis, especially SMEs, which usually only have one source of revenue. Too many insurers are reneging on the bargain they struck when they agreed to accept the premium.”

Edwin Coe specialises in quantum issues and BI losses, as well as commercial and insolvency work.