Stay Prepared: Maximizing Insurance Coverage for the Chronic Risk of Civil Unrest

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Civil unrest flared at various points in the U.S. in mid-2020 following the police killing of George Floyd, causing an estimated $1-2 billion in property damage. While the period in which substantial violence and property damage occurred subsided fairly quickly, the risk of property damage and business interruption in an era of protest and polarization is chronic (as evidenced by violence at recent protests in Atlanta).  Recent domestic terrorist attacks have attacked power grids with the misguided goal of generating chaos.  Businesses need to understand their insurance coverage for such events and how to maximize it. This session will overview the basic nature and key provisions of first-party property policies and the business interruption, civil authority, and extra expense insurance coverage that should be included in the property policy. We will also identify typical insurance company defenses against coverage (or ways to minimize coverage), and outline how to counter them.