Businesses, lacking legal immunity, fear COVID-19 lawsuits

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Plans for a lawsuit against a Maine venue that hosted what became a “superspreader” wedding reception underscore the liability risks to small businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic and an uphill push by Republicans in Congress to give such outfits legal immunity.

Behemoths like Walmart and Tyson Foods, which have been the target of COVID-19-related lawsuits, can largely absorb any losses. But hundreds of negligence lawsuits have been filed across the country, with mom-and-pops most fearing the prospect of litigation that could put them under.

“They can end up losing even if they win a lawsuit,” said David Clough, of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, because costly litigation can bankrupt small businesses that don’t have deep pockets.

For the family-owned Big Moose Inn in Millinocket, Maine, it’s not a theoretical problem. The estates of at least three nursing home residents whose deaths were linked to a wedding reception there in August intend to sue the inn and the nursing home, said the families’ attorney, Timothy Kenlan.

The wedding and reception sparked outbreaks that infected at least 180 people and caused at least eight deaths, state officials said. Seven of those who died were residents of the Maplecrest nursing home in Madison, Maine, whose attorney declined to comment.

A notice of claim indicates damages will be sought from the inn for hosting an event that Kenlan contends violated state safety protocols during a pandemic.

“What stands out here is the egregious conduct. They put profits ahead of people,” Kenlan said. “They were flouting the rules.”

Paul Brown, attorney for Big Moose Inn, said there’s no way to prove the wedding reception was the source of infections. There were several other...