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

Wednesday

01/07/2026

Showers

-° / 44°

38%

Thursday

01/08/2026

Partly Cloudy

51° / 36°

5%

Friday

01/09/2026

Clear

55° / 35°

3%

Saturday

01/10/2026

Partly Cloudy

60° / 37°

4%

Sunday

01/11/2026

Partly Cloudy

57° / 38°

6%

Monday

01/12/2026

Mostly Clear

58° / 40°

6%

Tuesday

01/13/2026

Mostly Clear

60° / 42°

6%

Wednesday

01/14/2026

Clear

60° / 43°

5%