Civil Unrest Insurance Coverage: Issues for Policyholders


Summary

The year 2020 was a record year for incidents of civil unrest in the United States. Mass demonstrations concerning race and police brutality, gender, and LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, and climate change occurred in unprecedented numbers. With the rise of civil unrest came an increase in commercial and personal property damage. This practice note addresses important considerations for insurance policyholders relating to evaluating insurance coverage for losses or damage resulting from riots, vandalism, government lockdowns and curfews, and more. The scope and limitations of coverages applicable to different types of civil unrest claims are discussed below, as well as practice pointers to consider when counseling clients in the aftermath of such events.