Our firm has filed lawsuits against Cincinnati Insurance Company in Multnomah County Circuit Court on behalf of RingSide Steakhouse, Mississippi Studios, Polaris Hall, and Revolution Hall, four cultural institutions that span Portland’s culinary roots to the city’s famous music scene. The lawsuits arise from Cincinnati’s denial of these iconic establishments’ claims for business income loss coverage arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From a revered, historic restaurant to popular music venues, businesses are deeply feeling the impact of COVID-19,” said Seth Row, lead insurance recovery attorney at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn. “Cincinnati Insurance has wrongfully denied coverage for these Portland institutions, and many others, putting many businesses and individuals’ livelihoods at risk. These businesses paid for ‘all risk’ insurance coverage and they are entitled to payment for their substantial business income losses.”
Cincinnati Insurance is a unit of Cincinnati Financial Corporation, based in Ohio, and sells property and casualty insurance nationwide.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has systematically shut down the entire live music economy and ecosystem. Live music venues were the first to close and may be the last to reopen. Iconic assembly spaces across the globe now face a sustained closure and negative revenue for an indefinite amount of time. Touring artists have been sidelined for the foreseeable future,” says Kevin Cradock, co-owner of Mississippi Studios, Polaris Hall, and Revolution Hall.
“After 75 years of operating in Portland, the restaurant’s closure due to the pandemic was more than anyone could have prepared for,” says Craig Peterson, a partner in RingSide Steakhouse. “The entirety of our staff and their families have felt the financial impact of COVID-19. During this challenging time, the last thing our family-owned business anticipated is to be abandoned by the insurance we purchased for exactly these moments.”
In July, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn filed a similar lawsuit in Washington State on behalf of renowned Seattle restaurant group, Ethan Stowell Restaurants. That lawsuit is pending.
About RingSide Steakhouse
Family-owned and operated, RingSide Steakhouse has been serving the Portland community for 75 years. The steakhouse offers guests a “classic” steakhouse ambiance and is well-known for their steak and seafood dishes. RingSide Steakhouse has received several awards recognizing its culinary excellence. Portland Business Journal readers routinely vote RingSide Steakhouse as their favorite restaurant in Portland and nationally, RingSide Steakhouse has been recognized in Tom Horan’s America’s Top Ten Hall of Fame, on the Great Steakhouses of North America list and received the prestigious DiRoNA Award of Excellence – from Distinguished Restaurants of North America. More information is available at ringsidesteakhouse.com.
About Mississippi Studios & Polaris Hall
Mississippi Studios is a music venue and recording studio, owned and operated by musicians. Located in North Portland on the bustling N. Mississippi Avenue, musicians perform for concert-goers in an intimate setting, allowing for a truly unique experience. Mississippi Studios hosts over 500 events per year featuring local, national, and international touring artists, encompassing all genres. Visit mississippistudios.com for more information. Mississippi Studios also owns and operates Polaris Hall, which was fully renovated and restored in 2017. Visit polarishall.com for more information.
About Revolution Hall
Revolution Hall is a concert venue located in the historic Washington High School which was founded in 1906. After closing in 1981, Washington High School remained vacant over the years until its sale and renovation in 2013 to accommodate offices, several bars, a restaurant and café, and a large multi-use auditorium. In addition to concerts, Revolution Hall hosts a wide-variety of events, including film festivals, lectures, and standup comedy. More information is available at revolutionhall.com.
