Court Awards Summary Judgment on Breach of Contract Claims in Benzene Insurance Dispute

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A federal court has awarded summary judgment to an insurer on breach of contract claims, finding that since the benzene defendant never requested defense or indemnification from the insurance company, cross-claims for breach of contract failed. The Travelers Indemnity Co. v. W.M. Barr & Co., et al., No. 08-02649 (W.D. Tenn.).

In the Oct. 31 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee ruled that while the insurance company did not deny that it had a duty to defend or indemnify benzene defendant W.M. Barr & Co., that obligation was not triggered since the …