Intentional torts covered under CGL policies, court finds; Washington high court sides with policyholder.(commercial general liability)(Brief Article)

Business Insurance, December, 2001 by Bradford, Michael

Policyholders have scored a victory in a Washington Supreme Court ruling that public policy in the state does not preclude insurance coverage for intentional torts and for punitive damages under commercial general liability policies. The case is important because it is the first to clarify the state's stand on public policy with regard to coverage of intentional torts.

Washington joins more than 20 other states that allow coverage in such cases. The Nov. 22 coverage ruling stems from a California jury's award of $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages against Fluke Corp. of Everett, Wash. Fluke, a manufacturer of electrical equipment, had lost a patent infringement suit it had filed in federal court in California against Talon...

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