Fla. Judge Rules in Favor of Insurer in Drywall Coverage Action

FORT MYERS, Fla. - A state court judge in Florida has ruled that a pollution exclusion in three policies sold to Gulfcoast Engineering bars coverage for Chinese drywall claims asserted against the installer in an omnibus MDL class action case. FCCI Advantage Insurance Co. v. Gulfcoast Engineering LLC, No. 10-CA-002862 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Lee Cty.).

Lee County Circuit Court Judge Sherra Winesett ruled Aug. 8 that FCCI Advantage Insurance Co. owes neither a duty to defend nor indemnify Gulfcoast because allegations in the underlying class action fit "clearly" within the unambiguous language of the policies' exclusion.

Judge Winesett also noted …