Environmental Liability Coverage and Exclusions under Commercial General Liability (CGL) Policies

Summary

This practice note broadly addresses critical environmental liability coverage issues and related pollution exclusions under Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policies. In addition, it will discuss an insurer's duty to defend under standard CGL policies and coverage triggers. It will also extend to primary, excess, and umbrella policies that the same or different insurers have issued. A brief history of the development of the CGL policy is included because the policy has undergone several iterations, and the version of the policy under which your client is asserting or defending a claim can bear upon the claim's outcome.