COVID-19, business interruption and physical damage

By Donald Dinnie on July 19, 2020 Posted in Insurance

In South Africa and the United Kingdom, coronavirus coverage disputes are centring around the interpretation of various non-damage extensions provided under the policy’s business interruption section. In North America, both in Canada and the United States, the focus has been whether COVID-19 caused direct physical loss or damage to the insured property triggering business interruption … Continue reading

Poor air quality as physical damage

By Patrick Bracher (ZA) on July 21, 2016 Posted in Insurance

In Oregon a Shakespeare festival was forced to cancel shows because wildfire smoke filled the outdoor theatre. They sought to recover under their policy for loss of profits. The policy covered ‘direct physical loss of or damage to covered property’. There was no dispute that it was ‘covered property’ but the insurers contended that the … Continue reading

Household insurance – Break-in by physical damage required

By Anton Du Randt on November 26, 2014 Posted in Insurance

A policy that indemnifies household contents insured for a break-in or theft that requires the observer to “see physical damage” will compensate the insured only if physical damage can be seen by the insurer after the event. The insured in Pillay v The Hollard Insurance Company Limited alleged that various items of clothing and other household … Continue reading