Claimants, as reported by City A.M., include Arsenal Football Club, Arsenal Women Football Club, Aston Villa Football Club, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Crystal Palace Football Club, Leicester City Football Club, Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Ltd, Liverpool FC Women, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (also men and women), and West Ham United Football Club.
Also part of the lawsuit are related entities such as Arsenal Stadium Management Company and Aston Villa Foundation. All 20 claimants are represented by Clifford Chance.
“It is clear that the decision of the Supreme Court in the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) test case last year was only the beginning rather than the end of the story, and there are many other issues, including most recently under non-denial of access clauses and issues of causation and loss, yet to be resolved which should see further claims coming to court,” Samantha Holland, insurance head at law firm Gowling WLG, told City A.M.
Meanwhile, reportedly defending Allianz, Liberty, and MS Amlin is DAC Beachcroft; Aviva, Slaughter and May; CNA, RPC; and Zurich, Clyde & Co.
The Commercial Court case “would appear to be the latest in a series of claims against insurers where policyholders are seeking to recover COVID-related losses incurred as a result of the lockdown measures introduced in the pandemic,” Holland was quoted as saying.
