Insurance Claim Coverage.

Byline: Derek Hawkins

WI Court of Appeals District III

Case Name: Superior Water, Light and Power Company v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, et al.

Case No.: 2018AP1926

Officials: Stark, P.J., Hruz and Seidl, JJ.

Focus: Insurance Claim Coverage

This case concerns an insurance coverage dispute regarding three excess liability insurance policies issued to Superior Water, Light and Power Company (Superior Water) in 1970 by a host of insurance companies (collectively, the London Market Insurers (LMI)). In the circuit court, Superior Water sought a declaration that the policies obligated LMI to indemnify Superior Water for environmental contamination cleanup costs associated with a former manufactured gas plant site (the Site). The circuit court granted LMI's motion to dismiss after concluding that the term "one event," as used in the policies' definition of a coverage-triggering occurrence, referred solely to a leak or spill of contaminants during the policy period.

On appeal, Superior Water argues the circuit court erred by adopting a narrower definition of the term "one event" than is...