Featured Article

Pennsylvania Court Rules Carbon Monoxide is a Pollutant By Sherilyn Pastor and Louis A. Chiafullo of McCarter & English, LLP A Pennsylvania appellate court ruled that the absolute pollution exclusion bars coverage for carbon monoxide-related injuries. In Matcon Diamond, Inc. v. Penn National Ins. Co., No. 186 WDA 2002 (Pa. Super., Jan. 17, 2003), a policyholder was sued when its employee succumbed to carbon monoxide fumes while using a gas-powered tool in an enclosed workspace. The policyholder turned to its insurer for a defense, but the insurer denied coverage based on its pollution exclusion. Pennsylvania Court Rules Carbon Monoxide is a Pollutant By Sherilyn Pastor and Louis A. Chiafullo of McCarter & English, LLP

News & Analysis

Latest News

• PMI Group swings to hefty 1Q loss on defaults (AP)
• MBIA slides to huge 1Q loss on hefty charges (AP)
• AIG posts 1Q loss of $7.8B, plans to raise $12.5B (AP)
• German insurer Allianz 1Q net profit falls 65 percent (AP)
• Mich. high court says gay partners can't get health benefits (AP)

Research Tools

Associations

• American Bar Association - Tort and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Offers news, events and article abstracts.
• American Insurance Association Property and casualty insurance trade organization.
• Financial Institutions Insurance Association Trade association dedicated to professional marketing of insurance and annuities by the full spectrum of financial institutions.
• Health Insurance Association of America Trade association representing the private health care system.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners Organization of insurance regulators.
• Physician Insurers Association of America Trade association of professional liability (medical malpractice) insurance companies owned and operated by doctors and dentists.

Government Resources

• Industry at a Glance: Finance, Insurance and Real Estate From the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• State of Illinois Department of Insurance

Laws

• Commerce and Trade Codes U.S. Code, Title 15.
• Rates and Forms Filing From the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Web Sites

• A. M. Best Ratings and Analysis Database of nearly 6,000 life/health, property/casualty, and international insurance companies.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)/ Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) Links to FAQs, publications, vehicle ratings and safety facts.
• Standard & Poor's Credit Ratings
• WashLaw WEB -- Insurance Law Directory of insurance law firms, legal treatises, and more.
• Yahoo! Finance - News By Industry Includes insurance industry news.

Westlaw Databases

• Code of Federal Regulations (FIN-CFR)
• Domestic Insurance Compliance Materials (MULTI-INS)
• Domestic/Offshore Insurance Compliance Materials (MULTI-INSF)
• Federal Cases (FIN-CS)
• Finance & Insurance Industry News (WNS-FI)
• Graham-Leach-Bliley Act Combined Materials (GLBA-ALL)
• Law Reviews, Texts and Bar Journals (INTP)
• Multistate Administrative Regulations Combined (MIN-ADC)
• NAIC - Model Laws, Regulations and Guidelines (NAIC-MODLRG)
• NAIC - Proceedings (NAIC-PROC)
• State Administrative Code Supplements Combined (MIN-ADSUPP)
• State Bulletins Combined (MIN-BUL)
• State Cases Combined (MIN-CS)
• State Insurance Statutes Combined (MIN-ST)
• State Statutes Combined (MIN-ST)
• U.S. Code Annotated (FIN-USCA)