Businessowners Liability—Archived Article

July, 2002

Comparable to CGL Form

Summary: Insurance Services Office (ISO) has revised the businessowners program. Under the new program, the property and liability coverages and the general conditions have been incorporated into the current form BP 00 03 07 02. Therefore, the BP 00 01 01 97 (standard form), BP 00 02 01 97 (special form), BP 00 09 01 97 (conditions), and BP 00 06 01 97 (liability) forms have been withdrawn.

In many respects, the liability coverages on the BP 00 03 07 02 are comparable to the occurrence version of ISO's commercial general liability (CGL) coverage form. Consequently, the businessowners insured has essentially the same scope of coverage for premises and operations, products and completed operations, advertising and personal injury, and medical payments as an insured with the CGL form. However, there are some differences between the two forms, as described subsequently in this discussion. For a further discussion of the CGL provisions, see [IDL:CGL Definitions.xml^"Commercial General Liability Definitions"],[IDL:CGL Cvg Fm - Cvg A .xml^"CGL Coverage Form—Coverage A"], [IDL:CGL Cvg Fm - Cvg B.xml^"CGL Coverage Form—Coverage B"], [IDL:CGL Med Pyaments.xml^"Medical Payments"], and [IDL:General Provisions of CGL.xml^"General Provisions of the CGL"]. Print subscribers can find this information in the Public Liability section of the Casualty and Surety volume.

Following is a discussion of the liability coverages in the BP 00 03 07 02. Many insurers may not have adopted the current form, so take this into account when making coverage determinations.
Topics covered:
Business liability coverage
Supplementary payments
Medical expenses
Business liability exclusions
Exclusions applicable to medical expenses
Nuclear energy exclusion
Who is an insured
Limits of insurance
Liability and medical expenses conditions
Liability definitions

Business Liability Coverage

1. Business Liability

a.     We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “bodily injury”, “property damage”, or “personal injury and advertising injury” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking those damages. However, we will have no duty to defend the insured against any “suit” seeking damages for “bodily injury”, “property damage”,  or “personal injury and advertising injury” to which this insurance does not apply. We may at our discretion, investigate any “occurrence” and settle any claim or “suit” that may result. But:

(1)     The amount we will pay for damages is limited as described in Paragraph D – Liability And Medical Expenses Limits Of Insurance in Section II – Liability; and

(2)     Our right and duty to defend end when we have used up the applicable limit of insurance in the payment of judgments or settlements or medical expenses.

     No other obligation or liability to pay sums or perform acts or services is covered unless explicitly provided for under Paragraph f. Coverage Extension – Supplementary Payments.

Analysis

The most noticeable difference between the businessowners liability form and the CGL is format. In the businessowners liability form, bodily injury and property damage liability as well as advertising and personal injury liability are all insured under one coverage called “business liability.” In contrast, the CGL insures bodily injury and property damage liability under coverage A, and advertising and personal injury through coverage B. The businessowners liability form also provides medical expenses coverage which is equivalent to medical payments coverage (coverage C) of the CGL.

This premium content is locked for FC&S Coverage Interpretation Subscribers

Enjoy unlimited access to the trusted solution for successful interpretation and analyses of complex insurance policies.

  • Quality content from industry experts with over 60 years insurance experience, combined
  • Customizable alerts of changes in relevant policies and trends
  • Search and navigate Q&As to find answers to your specific questions
  • Filter by article, discussion, analysis and more to find the exact information you’re looking for
  • Continually updated to bring you the latest reports, trending topics, and coverage analysis