Subcontractors' Insurers Ordered to Defend General Contractor

DALLAS - A Texas appeals court has reversed a ruling in favor of general liability insurers for subcontractors on an apartment building project, saying that the general contractor was an additional insured on the project and is owed a defense in a lawsuit over alleged defects. Thos. S. Byrne Ltd. v. Trinity Universal Insurance Co., et al., No. 05-07-01255-CV (Texas Ct. App., 5th Dist.).

The Fifth District Court of Appeals also rejected any assertions by the insurers that the alleged defects occurred outside the insurers' respective policy periods, or were excluded from coverage.

Thomas S. Byrne Ltd. was the general …