NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Legal battles loom as businesses hit by virus sue insurers

Legal battles loom as businesses hit by virus sue insurers
Posted
and last updated

CHICAGO (AP) — A once-bustling Chicago bar and grill tucked below a Michigan Avenue overpass famously inspired a "Saturday Night Live" skit starring John Belushi and Bill Murray.

But the money the Billy Goat Tavern is losing during the coronavirus outbreak is no joke.

The tavern and millions of other shuttered businesses nationwide have turned to their insurers to help recoup their losses following state-mandated closures, which combined may exceed $300 billion a month.

But insurers have widely rejected the claims, so the Billy Goat has joined a growing line of businesses including barbershops and casinos suing insurers to force them to pay.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

12/29/2025

Mostly Sunny

54° / 41°

2%

Tuesday

12/30/2025

Cloudy

56° / 45°

6%

Wednesday

12/31/2025

Cloudy

54° / 50°

24%

Thursday

01/01/2026

AM Rain

60° / 50°

77%

Friday

01/02/2026

Mostly Cloudy

63° / 54°

9%

Saturday

01/03/2026

AM Showers

59° / 49°

40%

Sunday

01/04/2026

Partly Cloudy

59° / 47°

19%

Monday

01/05/2026

Mostly Cloudy

58° / 47°

11%