Benihana Loses Covid Fight Against Four Insurers in New York

Benihana lost its battle for Covid-19 insurance after a New York judge said the Japanese restaurant chain didn’t experience property damage required for coverage under its insurance policies.

The company, which has up to $50 million in commercial insurance policies, is not entitled to coverage of pandemic-related business costs, said Justice Joel M. Cohen of the New York Supreme Court on Wednesday. He granted a motion to dismiss Benihana’s lawsuit seeking coverage from James River Insurance Company and units of Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AXIS Capital Holdings and The Hartford.

The ruling is the latest blow to the hospitality ...