McBride's Sues Insurer After Coronavirus Shuts Bar, Restaurant

JOLIET, IL — The owners of two well-established Joliet businesses, McBride's On 52 and McBride's Pub on Caton Farm Road, have filed a federal lawsuit in Chicago against Society Insurance, accusing the company of improperly denying their insurance claims amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Like all Illinois bars and restaurants, McBride's was forced to close nearly three weeks ago to stem the spread of the virus.

"This is a huge loss and financially devastating to all of us. We are family-owned and treat our employees like family, most of our employees have been with us since the beginning 10 years ago, we are all heartbroken," Tracy Stary told Joliet Patch in an email.

She and her husband Brent are owners and operators of McBride's Pub Inc. The Starys employ about 100 people at their three pubs in Joliet, Plainfield and Aurora.

"We pay large premiums monthly for years at all our locations to protect our staff and our businesses in times of crisis," Stary said.

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"This insurance is to cover all of our employees' paychecks, tips, and our lost sales and product. We had to donate almost $7,000 in produce and bread to a local food pantry, we were heavily stocked for St. Patrick's Day," the McBride's owner continued. "We have been closed since March 16. Most of my employees are having a hard time getting unemployment because the system is overloaded.

"In such a desperate time of need, we rely on our insurance policies put in place to help us and they have failed. Our intention with this lawsuit is to be able to pay all of our employees back their lost wages and help them all get back on their feet."

McBride's On 52 is on West Jefferson Street. The McBride's Pub in Plainfield is actually in the far western city limits of Joliet. The owners also operate the McBride's in Aurora. The plaintiffs are represented by the international law firm of King and Spalding.

"Society Insurance directed its insurance agents, who are not plaintiffs' agents, to make sham claim notifications before Society Insurance's policyholders even noticed their claims. Society Insurance took these actions, before claims were even submitted, as part of its plan to discourage claim notifications and to avoid any responsibility for its policyholders' staggering losses, in violation of Illinois law," the plaintiff's lawyers argued.

Several Chicago-area hospitality groups who are also plaintiffs in the case are:

• Fatpour Tap Works-Wicker Park, Fatpour Tap Works-McCormick Place, Hopsmith, Woodie’s Flat, The Irish Oak, Brunch, and Centre Street Kitchen

• Headquarters Beercade-River North and Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink
• The New 400 Theater and Harper Theater
• Welcome Back, The Vig, and The Whale
• Happy Camper Pizza-Old Town, Happy Camper Pizza-Lakeview, Paradise Park, and Homeslice

Related:

• IL Coronavirus: Governor Extends Stay At Home Order
• Illinois Coronavirus Update March 31: Cases Near 6,000
• National Guard To Help With Stateville Coronavirus Outbreak