The Inns by the Sea v. Cal. Mutual Ins. Co.

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Inns operates four lodging facilities in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and one lodging facility in Half Moon Bay. On January 9, 2020, Inns renewed its commercial insurance policy with California Mutual (the Policy), which includes commercial property insurance covering each of Inns’ five lodging facilities. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in government orders restricting the movement of citizens and the operation of businesses. On March 16 and 17, 2020, the counties of Monterey and San Mateo, where Inns’ lodging facilities are located, issued orders for the express purpose of “ensur[ing] that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible”

(N.D.Ill. 2021) 521 F.Supp.3d 729 (Society Ins.); Derek Scott Williams PLLC v. Cincinnati Ins. Co. (N.D.Ill. 2021) 522 F.Supp.3d 457; Elegant Massage, LLC v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. (E.D.Va. 2020) 506 F.Supp.3d 360.) A website administered by the University of Pennsylvania Law School titled “Covid Coverage Litigation Tracker”…