Va. Federal Judge Finds Insurers Have No Duty to Defend Contractor

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - A Virginia federal judge ruled on June 2 that mold and contractual exclusions in commercial general liability policies bar coverage for construction defect claims against the insured contractor. Union Insurance Co. v. Williams Contracting Inc., No. 3:05-CV-00075 (W.D. Va.).

Union Insurance Co. filed a declaratory judgment after Williams Contracting Inc. sought a defense to claims made in a state court lawsuit by Robin and Randal Garrett.

In 2002, Williams contracted to build a house for the Garretts in Mineral, Va. Shortly after moving in , the Garretts began to complain of structural problems that led to …