Housing Authority Risk Retention Group – Pollution Exclusion Coverage Litigation

Represented a risk retention group in litigation against a housing authority over whether an insurance policy excluded a judgment against the housing authority for exposure to pollution. In a case of first impression under Illinois law, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of our client, holding that the absolute pollution exclusion excluded coverage for an underlying $10 million judgment against the insured based upon exposure to pollutants, even though the insured did not actively cause the pollution, and even though the pollution originated off-site and migrated to the insured's property. (Housing Authority Risk Retention Group, Inc. v. Chicago Housing Authority, 378 F.3d 596 (7th Cir. 2004))