Underlying Assertion Of Negligent Misrepresentation Is Not Necessarily An Occurrence

Courts sometimes struggle with the issue of whether property damage arising in the context of a contractual relationship, particularly in construction contracts, constitutes an "occurrence" under a standard commercial general liability (CGL) policy. Generally, but not always – and it varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction – courts regard contractual breaches as non-accidental conduct, and/or apply the so-called "business risk" exclusions (such as the standard CGL "Your Work" exclusion), in finding no coverage. Lexington Ins. Co. v. Chicago Flameproof Wood Specialties Corp., No. 17-cv-3513 (N.D. Ill. Aug 10, 2018), a recent decision from a federal court in Illinois, is illustrative.