On 20 May 2026, the High Court handed down judgment following the preliminary issues trial in Ann Grimes & Ors v Liberty Mutual Insurance Group SE.

This was the first time that the courts have considered what is required to show a “discovery” of Covid-19 with Christopher Hancock KC finding in favour of the Claimants’  position that if there was a case of Covid-19 at the premises in the period between the date when Covid-19 became a notifiable disease and the date of closure, which, together with other cases of Covid-19 nationwide, caused closure, this will be covered, whether it is discovered before or after closure. The court also found in favour of the Claimants’ argument on causation such that It is sufficient that the case of Covid-19, taken together with other cases in the relevant locality, caused the closure and that there are no special requirements of knowledge by the relevant public authority.

Anna Greenley and Sam Way were instructed by Barings Law

The judgment can be found here.