Continental Insurance Co. Absolved of Any Duty to Defend Boat Builder

TAMPA, Fla. — A federal judge has concluded that carbon monoxide injury claims by workers aboard a yacht clearly fall within a coverage exclusion in a liability policy issued to the yacht’s maker by Continental Insurance Co. (NYSE: CNA), meaning the carrier has no duty to defend a personal injury lawsuit.

Judge James D. Whittemore granted summary judgment to Continental Oct. 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida after first determining that the court could look outside the four corners of the underlying complaint to determine whether Continental’s duty to defend Composite Structures Inc. (d/b/a …