By Nicole Montesano • Staff Writer • 

County receives permission to reopen; will businesses follow?

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Comments

Bill B

Another factor that few if any business owners should consider is there potential exposure to liability as a result of a customer acquiring the corona virus while at their business. A customer that can prove they acquired the virus while on a business owner’s premises, can argue that it was caused by the owner not taking precautions to protect customers. Or, in the case of an infected employee spreading the disease to customers, an argument could be made that the business owner did not properly screen employees and is therefore liable. General Liability insurance should provide some protection, but does have limits.

Bill B

Correctio; Another factor that few if any business owners would consider is their potential exposure to liability as a result of a customer acquiring the corona virus while at their business. A customer that can prove they acquired the virus while on a business owner’s premises, can argue that it was caused by the owner not taking precautions to protect customers. Or, in the case of an infected employee spreading the disease to customers, an argument could be made that the business owner did not properly screen employees and is therefore liable. General Liability insurance should provide some protection, but does have limits.

tagup

Bill- While I agree with your points, I don’t think liability issues could ever be proven without a substantial increase in the ability to get tested.....A customer/ plaintiff would need to have positive test results for themselves and from an employee of a business. Further they would need to substantiate that their exposure actually happened at the business and not from someone in the general population....
I think the bigger liability risk comes from employees claiming lack of protection from the employer from lax cleaning practices, social distancing policy or failures to provide proper PPE....I think that’s already part of the county lawsuit if I’m not mistaken....

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