M & C initiates legal action over 9/11 bombings |
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Sat, 22 Oct 2005 15:00
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LONDON - Hotel group Millennium & Copthorne has announced that it is initiating legal action against its former insurance adviser Willis over damages to its US business as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
The hotel chain, which has a strong presence globally, is owned by the Asian millionaire Kwek Leng Beng. This particular lawsuit was filed on October 19.2005 by the group's US subsidiary, CDL Hotels USA. It relates to the losses suffered by the New York Millennium Hilton Hotel, which is located directly opposite the bombed twin towers. The group said that the attacks themselves and the security measures including flight cancellations that were initiated following the attacks led to cancellations at the hotel and resulted in revenue losses. The group feels that it has a right to be reimbursed for these losses and hence has taken Willis to court.
"The action seeks damages in excess of $45 million on various grounds relating to damages and business interruption losses at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in New York and business interruption losses at its other US hotel properties resulting from the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001," M & C said in a statement. Willis, which happens to be the world's third-biggest insurance broker, refused to comment on the action, "As is our company policy, we do not comment on pending litigation," a spokesman said.
M&C operates about 90 hotels in 16 countries across the globe. The group's UK business was hit following the July London bombings, but it still managed to report a doubling of first-half profits to £40.1 million in August.
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