Court Affirms Application of Pollution Exclusion to Mississippi Silica Claims

SAN FRANCISCO - A California appeals court has affirmed a trial court's decision that excluded insurance coverage for two Mississippi silica claims filed against defendant Pauli Systems, Inc. John Garamendi v. Golden Eagle Insurance Company, et al., No. A104076, A104077 (Calif. Ct. App., First Dist.).

In a decision issued March 9, the California First District Court of Appeal ruled that an operative endorsement to the pollution exclusion contained in Pauli System's commercial general liability policy applies to the claims, even though the silica complaints only generally referred to the nature of the defendant's business.

Both underlying silica complaints were filed …