No Coverage for Silica Claims Against Safety Products Distributor, Court Says

DAVENPORT, Iowa - An endorsement limiting insurance coverage to claims arising from products manufactured by an insured, or activities that occurred on its premises, did not trigger a duty to defend a respirator distributor sued in numerous silica product liability cases, a federal judge has ruled. Pekin Insurance Co. v. Tysa Inc., No. 05-30 (S.D. Iowa).

In a Dec. 27 decision, Judge James E. Gritzner of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa awarded summary judgment to Pekin Insurance Co. in a declaratory judgment action brought by the insurer. Pekin had issued a commercial general liability policy …