Texas Court Affirms Order Enforcing Insurance Coverage for Asbestos Claims

HOUSTON -- A Texas appellate court has upheld an order enforcing insurance coverage of an underlying asbestos lawsuit, finding that the facts included in the complaint are sufficient to support "an inference of coverage." GEICO General Insurance Co., v. Austin Power Inc., No. 14-11-00049-CV (Texas 14th Dist. Ct. App.).

In the Jan. 5 decision, the Texas 14th Court of Appeals found that GEICO General Insurance Co. was obligated to defend asbestos defendant Austin Power Inc. in an underlying asbestos suit.

"The allegations in the [asbestos] petition, when construed liberally in favor of Austin Power, support the inference that [the plaintiff's] …