The COVID-19 Class Action
Companies impacted by the operational and legal challenges arising from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may face another legal concern: the risk of class action lawsuits associated with the pandemic. Since early March, dozens of putative class actions relating to COVID-19 have been filed in state and federal courts.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to potentially new and large sources of liability. Class action claims have been filed against the cruise line industry by passengers exposed to the virus and against retailers alleging inadequate protections for their frontline workers such as cashiers. The restaurant industry has launched class claims against insurers for denying coverage under business interruption claims. More cases are expected.
BRG’s Peggy Daley and Robin Cantor, and Frank Citera, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Product Liability and Mass Torts Litigation practice, led a discussion of the COVID-19 class action landscape.