4th Cir. Sends First-Party Drywall Coverage Question to Va. High Court

RICHMOND, Va. - A federal appeals court has opted not to address the question of whether a homeowners' policy provides coverage for Chinese drywall-related damage, instead certifying a question to the state Supreme Court so it can decide a "matter of exceptional importance." Travco Insurance Co. v. Ward, No. 10-1710 (4th Cir.).

The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals' March 1 decision asks the Virginia Supreme Court to interpret several exclusions in an all-risk homeowners policy and their application to drywall coverage claims asserted by homeowner Larry Ward.

A district court judge ruled in June 2010 that while Ward …