Louisville, Jan. 21. A U.S. District Court Judge in Kentucky has ruled that neither Travelers or excess insurer Cincinnati Ins. Co. have a duty to defend Bellarmine University in a wrongful death suit brought by the estate of a university lacrosse player who died while participating in conditioning drills.
On January 21, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson granted the insurers’ motion for judgment on the pleadings, holding that the policy’s Athletic Participants Exclusion Endorsement relieved the insurers of the duty to defend or indemnify Bellarmine in the underlying death suit. The endorsement excluded coverage for bodily injury “to any person engaged in athletic, exercise, or sports activities” sponsored by the university.
The Court held that Travelers did not contract to ensure the exposure for which Bellarmine was seeking defense and indemnity. It also held that the excess policy issued by Cincinnati did not apply, as it contained language disclaiming coverage for any loss which came within an applicable exclusion in the language of the primary policy.
Underwriters Safety et al v. Travelers et al, W.D. Ky. 2016 (Simpson, J.)
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