WE ARE
BIG
The Business Interruption Group is a coalition of thousands of businesses, employing millions in every sector of the Economy. We band together to form the BIG nonprofit to INSIST INSURERS PAY OWED BUSINESS LOSSES CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS.
Business OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE PAID PREMIUMS to safeguard the livelihood of their employees in the case of a Civil Authority Shutdown. Insurers are withholding this coverage and putting tens of millions on unemployment lines in every sector of the economy.
A picture of an empty Times Square has spread around the world. This is what it looks like when the foundation of entertainment, restaurant, med
TIM TOMPKINS, PRESIDENT OF THE TIMES SQUARE ALLIANCE
THE LARGEST BUSINESS ALLIANCE AND BIG PARTNER
TOGETHER WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE INSURERS TO ABANDON EVERY SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY:
THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
AMERICA’S LARGEST PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEr
15.6
MILLION
We provide jobs to 15.6 million Americans.
$1
TRILLION
We contribute over $1 trillion to the economy annually.
4% GDP
We represent over 4%
of GDP.
Are you a restaurant owner affected?
FOUNDING MEMBERS
WOLFGANG
PUCK
DANIEL
BOULUD
EDOUARDO
JORDAN
DOMINIQUE
CRENN
STEVE
SALIS
THOMAS
KELLER
CAT
CORA
JEAN-GEORGES
VONGERICHTEN
JÉRÔME
BOCUSE
FOUNDING MEMBERS
WOLFGANG PUCK
DANIEL BOULUD
EDOUARDO JORDAN
DOMINIQUE CRENN
STEVE SALIS
THOMAS KELLER
CAT CORA
JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN
JÉRÔME BOCUSE
THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
supports 1 in 25 american jobs
8.3
MILLION
We provide jobs to 8.3 Million Americans
$686
BILLION
We contribute nearly $660 Billion to U.S. GDP (3.1%)
$395
BILLION
We support a total of $395 Billion in wages, salaries and other compensation.
Work in the hospitality industry and want to get involved?
OUR PR STRATEGY
tell the truth
Mark Twain is credited with the phrase “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on.”
Carriers are spreading deceptive propaganda to deceive policyholders about their coverage in the hope that people give up and rely upon federal bailout programs that seldom work.
Here are the most common Industry lies about BI coverage for Covid 19:
- All policies have a virus/pandemic exclusion.
FALSE!
Many policies have no virus or pandemic exclusion. Others have lower limit communicable disease or pollutant clean up coverage. On these policies Full Civil Authority Coverage is immediately owed.
- The virus does not cause property damage.
FALSE!
The industry is denying that the virus is sticking on surfaces causing a dangerous property condition and loss. This is factually and legally untrue – the virus is creating a dangerous property condition.
- The insurance industry cannot afford it!
FALSE!
By their own numbers, Insurers have over 822 Billion dollars in cash reserves, and on top of that they have insurance on what they owe. And insurers that provide insurers insurance, they have insurance! Instead of paying amounts they owe, carriers are taking a mountain of cash and are handing it to Lobbyists and Lawyers to fight us.
FALSE!
Many policies have no virus or pandemic exclusion. Others have lower limit communicable disease or pollutant clean up coverage. On these policies Full Civil Authority Coverage is immediately owed.
FALSE!
The industry is denying that the virus is sticking on surfaces causing a dangerous property condition and loss. This is factually and legally untrue – the virus is creating a dangerous property condition.
FALSE!
By their own numbers, Insurers have over 822 Billion dollars in cash reserves, and on top of that they have insurance on what they owe. And insurers that provide insurers insurance, they have insurance! Instead of paying amounts they owe, carriers are taking a mountain of cash and are handing it to Lobbyists and Lawyers to fight us.
“Sadly, just when Chubb is needed most, it has breached our trust and the trust of our committed global supporters. By denying the protection we paid for, they have halted and harmed our work.”
RABBI MARVIN HIER, SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER
“Sadly, just when Chubb is needed most, it has breached our trust and the trust of our committed global supporters. By denying the protection we paid for, they have halted and harmed our work.”
RABBI MARVIN HIER
OUR LEGAL STRATEGY
The BIG initiative launched the first Covid 19 lawsuit on March 16, 2020, to have a court declare that Civil Authority shutdowns trigger BI policies. BIG encompasses business leaders from the largest sector of the economy and we are banding together for strategic legal action:
“Coverage is owed immediately on any BI policy that does not include a clear virus exclusion. BIG is banding together with leaders in every industry to launch BIG strategic legal actions against carriers who deny coverage by failing to acknowledge the dangerous impact the virus causes to property. Carriers that are taking this position will be punished for destroying livelihoods and putting millions on unemployment lines. We are willing to support federal subsidies for insurers who cooperate with us, but the window for a solution is closing fast.”
JOHN HOUGHTALING
JOHN HOUGHTALING
GENERAL COUNSEL
“Coverage is owed immediately on any BI policy that does not include a clear virus exclusion. BIG is banding together with leaders in every industry to launch BIG strategic legal actions against carriers who deny coverage by failing to acknowledge the dangerous impact the virus causes to property. Carriers that are taking this position will be punished for destroying livelihoods and putting millions on unemployment lines. We are willing to support federal subsidies for insurers who cooperate with us, but the window for a solution is closing fast.”
JOHN HOUGHTALING
