NotPetya cyberattack: insurers ordered to cover Merck's losses
On 1 May 2023, the New Jersey State Court (USA) ruled in favor of the pharmaceutical group Merck in its lawsuit against its insurers including Ace American Insurance, Allianz Global, Liberty Mutual, Zurich American Insurance and Lloyd's of London.
In 2017, Merck fell victim to the "NotPetya" cyberattack and called on its insurers to cover its losses estimated at 1.4 billion USD. The insurance companies, however, refused to compensate the group on the grounds that it was an act of war, supposedly excluded from the insurance contract.
The New Jersey Court found that NotPetya is not considered an act of war and should therefore be covered by the companies concerned.
