Federal Judge Finds Pollution Exclusion Inapplicable to Workers’ Chemical Exposure Claims

ST. LOUIS — A federal judge has denied United Fire & Casualty’s (NYSE: UTX) motion for summary judgment in a coverage lawsuit, saying that a pollution exclusion doesn’t apply to chemical exposure claims brought by office workers in underlying claims.

While denying United Fire’s motion Jan. 28, Judge Charles A. Shaw granted a similar motion by Titan contractors Service Inc., which sought a defense and indemnification in three lawsuits arising out of Titan’s application of a concrete sealant in a space adjacent to the underlying plaintiffs’ offices.

Merri Bogard, Valerie Furlow and Tallauah Todd allege that breathing difficulties, headaches and …