Scaling The Great (Dry)Wall: Developments In Coverage For Chinese Drywall Claims

David Pharr, partner in the Jackson office, was a panelist at the 19th Annual Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Midyear Program. The program was presented by the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section.

The panel examined recent drywall-related coverage opinions and analogous caselaw that will influence the outcome of the issues presented, including: if and when damage or injury arises from Chinese Drywall, whether there is a “direct physical loss” under a first-party property policy; whether Chinese Drywall damages constitute “property damage” caused by an “occurrence” under third-party coverage; the effect of various policy exclusions and limitations to coverage, including those related to pollution and “business risk”; and the impact of choice of law rules.

Additionally, David was quoted in National Underwriter Property & Casualty magazine in the article "Conflicting Rulings On Defects Leave Looming Questions Over Drywall Claims".