coronavirus
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Divided appeals court says COVID-19 did not cause ‘direct physical loss’ to senior care facilities
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health orders did not cause a “direct physical loss” to the property of various assisted living facilities to the point of triggering insurance coverage. By 2-1, a three-judge Court of Appeals panel relied on the reasoning of recent federal court opinions and…
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10th Circuit partially reinstates fired nursing home worker’s lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccination
The federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Tuesday that a former nursing home employee can pursue her claim of religious discrimination against her employer for failing to grant a religious exemption to its COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Diann R. Bolonchuk alleged she was an 18-year employee of Cherry Creek Nursing Center/Nexion Health when it…
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10th Circuit rules Black Hawk casino’s insurance policy did not cover COVID-19 closure
The federal appeals court based in Denver decided last week that a Black Hawk casino’s insurance policy, with limited exception, did not provide for hundreds of millions of dollars in coverage during the period in 2020 when COVID-19 forced businesses to halt or modify their operations. Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. sued its insurer, Affiliated…
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CSU may be sued for refunds following COVID-19 campus closure, appeals court rules
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled last week that a class action lawsuit against Colorado State University may proceed, based on allegations the institution unjustly enriched itself by suspending in-person activities at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic without refunding tuition or student fees. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals agreed, by 2-1, it was…
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10th Circuit says no refunds for Vail Resorts customers after curtailed 2020 ski season
Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced Vail Resorts to halt operations for the 2019-2020 season, the federal appeals court based in Denver has ruled passholders cannot sue the ski conglomerate for refunds. Vail customers from Colorado and other states pursued a class action lawsuit against the company on the theory that the Epic Passes…
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Pandemic accelerated remote health care amid crisis that triggered staffing shortages in Colorado
When the coronavirus started sweeping through Colorado three years ago, protecting hospitals’ ability to care for the sickest patients was at the center of public life – a driving reason behind masks and limiting gatherings. Waves of the virus hammered hospital care workers for years, causing exhaustion, burnout and staffing shortages that they are still recovering from.…
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Colorado closes COVID-19 community testing sites by mid-January
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will close its 20 remaining COVID-19 testing sites on Jan. 15. As more Coloradans have relied on at-home COVID-19 tests in the past several months, the demand for testing at the state’s community sites has dropped to between 3 to 6% of overall capacity, according to a…
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10th Circuit weighs whether CU medical school’s vaccine mandate burdens free exercise of religion
Although a trial judge believed the University of Colorado was not obligated to accommodate more than a dozen medical students and staff whose religious beliefs opposed vaccination for COVID-19, the federal appeals court based in Denver appeared less supportive of the school on Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
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Denver will continue to house homeless at Aloft Hotels
Denver City Council gave final approval Monday night to a resolution extending the city’s use of 140 rooms at a downtown hotel for homeless people, as well as a food service agreement. The resolutions will extend the Emergency Occupancy Agreement with JBK Hotels LLC, which runs the Aloft Hotel, another six months through the end…