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Michael A. Hamilton Speaks with Law360 on Insurance Issues Surrounding Philadelphia Chemical Spill

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Michael A. Hamilton Speaks with Law360 on Insurance Issues Surrounding Philadelphia Chemical Spill

April 4, 2023
Michael A. Hamilton

Michael A. Hamilton, partner in Goldberg Segalla’s Global Insurance Services group, spoke with Law360 regarding insurance-coverage considerations following the release of chemicals that threatened Philadelphia drinking water.

Mike said that commercial general liability policies would not be sufficient coverage for this spill, or similar instances that involve hazardous substance release, due to the total pollution exclusion in commercial general liability policies that developed in the 1980s.

“With respect to actual clean up, I think an environmental impairment or environmental legal liability-type policy could be applicable here,” Mike said, “because those environmental products are meant to insure those type of environmental risks that typically would not be covered under a commercial general liability policy.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE:

Philadelphia Spill Scare Could Present Coverage Challenges,” Law360, March 31, 2023 [Subscription Required]

MORE ABOUT GOLDBERG SEGALLA’S MICHAEL A. HAMILTON:

Michael A. Hamilton handles sophisticated and high-exposure insurance coverage claims and commercial litigation. As a leader of the firm’s Global Insurance Services Pennsylvania and Ohio teams, Mike focuses his practice on environmental, professional liability, construction defect, transportation, and business torts/advertising injury claims. He has been lead-defense counsel in class action litigation, representing insurance companies, self-insurers, and transportation entities. He also has extensive appellate experience, arguing numerous appeals in state and federal courts across the country.