Latest Pollution Headlines

All the headlines from our Pollution Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Rich Banas to Succeed William Kronenberg III at XL Environmental

Jun 25 2002 // XL Capital Ltd announced that Rich Banas will become the new CEO of XL Environmental and XL Programs, succeeding William Kronenberg III, who is taking early retirement from the Company to pursue personal interests. Banas...

The St. Paul Agrees to Pay $988 Million in Asbestos Settlement

Jun 24 2002 // The St. Paul Companies have agreed to pay nearly $1 billion to settle outstanding claims and lawsuits related to asbestos. The news comes on the heels of PPG Industries’ agreement to a $2.7 billion settlement of...

Insurers Look to Wipe Clean Toxic Mold Claims

Jun 24 2002 // For U.S. insurers, reinsurers, and property professionals still reeling from the $32 million a Texas jury awarded Melinda Ballard in her toxic mold lawsuit against Farmers Insurance last year and the $18.5 million a...

A Preliminary Take on Mold Coverage

Jun 24 2002 // Mold. Stachybotrys. The stuff of broken refrigerators and the aftermath of floods is now the scourge of insurance companies. In the humid South, the epidemic of claims has led to actions by carriers and regulators similar...

Patton Chosen to Serve on Superfund Committee of NAC

Jun 19 2002 // Virginia-based Lindene Patton, a vice president with Zurich North America’s Specialties business unit, has been chosen to be a member of the newly formed Superfund Subcommittee to the National Advisory Council on...

Insurers Look to Wipe Clean Toxic Mold Claims

Jun 10 2002 // For U.S. insurers, reinsurers, and property professionals still reeling from the $32 million a Texas jury awarded Melinda Ballard in her toxic mold lawsuit against Farmers Insurance last year and the $18.5 million a...

$2.7 Billion PPG Asbestos Settlement Puts New Pressure on Insurers

Jun 10 2002 // A year ago insurance consultants Tillinghast-Towers Perrin published a report that global claims settlements and jury verdicts in asbestos related cases could reach $200 billion from over a million claims “before...

Environmental Risk Resources Assoc. Hosts

May 30 2002 // The Environmental Risk Resources Association, a company devoted to expanding the use of environmental insurance as a risk management tool through education, technology, resources and networking, will present “Mold...

UST Article Correction

May 21 2002 // In the article “Underground Storage Tanks: Words Leaks Out on Cover Enforcement” appearing on the April 25 National section of the IJ Web site, it was implied that AIG and Zurch Environmental are the only major...

Environmental E&O w/Mold

May 13 2002 // Nuts & Bolts: Alliance National Insurance Agency Inc. has available a program for environmental E&O w/mold. Available by appointment. Endorsements— additional insured, waiver, hired/non-owned auto. Dollars:...

Zurich Offers Home Environmental Protection Insurance for Homeowners with a Residential Fuel Oil Tan

Apr 25 2002 // Zurich North America’s Environmental Group has come up with an innovative program to provide today New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents with coverage for their residential fuel oil tanks. The Home...

Underground Storage Tanks: Word Leaks Out on Cover Enforcement

Apr 15 2002 // Owners and operators of underground petroleum storage tanks are a diverse lot—from global juggernauts such as ExxonMobil, Texaco, and Shell Oil to mom-and-pop gas stations. But all underground storage tank (UST)...

La. Approves Exclusions

Feb 11 2002 // Louisiana acting Commissioner of Insurance J. Robert Wooley announced the approval of terrorism, mold and pollution exclusions for certain lines of insurance. Wooley said approval of specific coverage exclusions is...

It Couldn’t Be Done: A Policyholder’s Idea To Reinvigorate Third Party Bad Faith

Jan 28 2002 // The Setting Throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s, the risk of bad faith liability was a major factor in evaluating third party claims for coverage. Ever increasing jury verdicts led to many inflated...

Seminar Offers Opportunities Available to Explore Environmental Issues

Jan 22 2002 // Insurance Skills Center has developed a pair of workshops that address the insurance implications of toxic mold claims and Montrose issues to be offered in several California locations. The four-hour “Mold &...

U.S.I. Holdings Announces Development of Environmental Risk Mitigation Group

Jan 14 2002 // San Francisco-based U.S.I. Holdings Corporation announced the launch of the USI Environmental Risk Mitigation Group. This national resource was developed with the objective of assisting USI clients with innovative...

Environmental Program Aims to Cap Cleanup Costs at Calif. Former Military Site

Jan 10 2002 // To help contain the expense of cleanup activities at an unused army barrack, an environmental insurance program is providing a financial cushion and liability protection as part of a fixed cost remediation agreement. ECS,...

House Superfund Reform Bill Passes Senate

Dec 31 2001 // Calling it overly narrow in approach, the Alliance of American Insurers has reiterated the need for a more comprehensive federal approach to hazardous waste than that offered in the Small Business Liability Relief Act (HR...

A.M. Best Foresees Asbestos, Environmental Losses

Nov 12 2001 // A.M. Best Co. expects the property/casualty industry to incur upwards of $121 billion in net asbestos and environmental losses, according to the company’s special report, “Final Data Support A.M. Best’s...

ZURICH ENVIRONMENTAL PROMO

Nov 5 2001 // Zurich North America Environmental kicked off a fourth-quarter sales promotion for its agents on Monday, Oct. 22. Through the rewards program, called “Turn up the Volume,” Zurich North America agents who reach...