SAKG Obtains Defense Verdict in Insurance Coverage Dispute in Jackson County, Missouri

Partner Jim Griffin secured a defense verdict for SAKG’s insurance company client in a case claiming coverage for the costs of cleanup of groundwater contamination.  The case was tried to a jury from October 3 to November 17 in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri.

The plaintiff, an international manufacturing company, claimed that beginning in the 1960s it had polluted groundwater at a manufacturing facility. The plaintiff claimed it incurred significant cleanup costs and claimed over $10 million in damages. SAKG’s client, along with the codefendants, argued late notice, failure to cooperate, and that plaintiff expected or intended the contamination. The jury returned a nominal verdict against one codefendant and defense verdicts for SAKG’s client and another codefendant.