Ill. Appeals Court Says Lower Court Erred in Applying ‘Aggregate’ Coverage Limits to Workplace Injuries

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. — An Illinois appellate panel has reversed summary judgment for oil and gas well operators seeking insurance coverage for an explosion that killed or injured several workers, saying a trial court erred in finding policy limits ambiguous.

The Fifth District Appellate Court held July 30 that the occurrence limits of each policy, rather than aggregate limits, control the amount of coverage available for bodily injury claims arising from the accident.

Bituminous Casualty Corp. sought a declaration as to its liabilities for bodily injury and wrongful death claims made against several insureds after a 2008 accident at a …