Carbon Monoxide Exposure Falls Within Policies’ Pollution Exclusion, 8th Cir. Rules

ST. LOUIS — An insurer has no duty to defend or indemnify a church for claims alleging injuries caused by carbon monoxide exposure because carbon monoxide is a “pollutant” under the policies and, therefore, the claims are excluded from coverage, a federal appeals court has affirmed.

On March 25, the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals further ruled that the insurer is not estopped from denying coverage because its delay in issuing a reservation of rights letter did not prejudice the insured.

John Green, the pastor of Clay Center Christian Church, lived with his wife in the church’s parsonage. On …