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ARTICLE · 08 OCTOBER 2012

Housing Discrimination Is Not Personal Injury

Duane Morris LLP
Duane Morris LLP
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The Federal Ins. Co. v. Steadfast Ins. Co, et al decision last week from the Second District Court of Appeal for the State of California provided helpful clarification for insurers regarding the scope of coverage under the "personal injury" coverage part of a general liability policy.

United StatesInsurance
Duane Morris
Duane Morris
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The Federal Ins. Co. v. Steadfast Ins. Co, et al decision last week from the Second District Court of Appeal for the State of California provided helpful clarification for insurers regarding the scope of coverage under the "personal injury" coverage part of a general liability policy by finding that insurers had no duty to defend a complaint for federal housing discrimination against California apartment owners. 

The underlying suit filed by the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") under the Fair Housing Act alleged that the defendants, (the "Sterling Defendants" aka Beverly Hills Properties) managed approximately 119 apartment buildings comprising over 5,000 apartments in Los Angeles County, and that they discriminated against non-Korean tenants and prospective tenants at buildings in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. The DOJ presented evidence that Sterling Defendants' employees prepared internal reports that identified the race of tenants at properties the

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