The article of the month focuses on additional insured endorsements. Prior to the 2013 standard ISO liability revisions in the commercial general liability coverage forms, there were thirty-three standard ISO additional insured endorsements. With the 2013 revisions and the introduction of another blanket automatic endorsement, there are now thirty-four endorsements. The rationale for the revisions is discussed in this article.

The court cases in the Dec Page come from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the U.S. District Courts, New Mexico, Oregon, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Fifth Circuit and the District Court in Florida rule on the applicability of the absolute pollution exclusion and the duty to defend. The owned property exclusion in the general liability policy was discussed by the district court in New Mexico, while the district courts in Oregon and Pennsylvania handled the business exclusion and the issue of bad faith, respectively.

Questions and Answers

Does an insured need to have building coverage in order for the newly acquired buildings coverage to apply? See Newly Acquired Buildings Coverage and Tenants. What do Connecticut statutes say about which policy is primary? See Is Condo Association or Unit-Owners Policy Primary?

Would displays located in the insured's showroom be considered salesperson samples under a commercial property endorsement? See Salesperson Samples or Business Personal Property? After a doctor died and his medical office was used only to store old medical records, was the premises vacant? See Medical Office Used as File Storage Considered Vacant.

Farm Personal Exposures FP 00 12

Form FP 00 12, Farm Property – Farm Dwellings, Appurtenant Structures and Household Personal Property Coverage Form has been updated as of April 2016. This article reviews the changes that have been made. See Farm Personal Exposures, FP 00 12.

Exclusion-Injury or Damage From Genetically Modified Crops, Grains, Trees, Animals Or Fish

While the FDA has approved genetically modified crops and animals for human consumption, concerns about the safety of the crops and animals exist. It is no surprise then that ISO has developed liability exclusions for genetically modified organisms. See Exclusion – Injury or Damage from Genetically Modified Crops, Grains, Trees, Animals or Fish.

Livestock Coverage

The Livestock Coverage article has been updated. This coverage allows blanket or scheduled coverage for livestock. See Livestock Coverage.

Joint Loss Agreements

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) Equipment Breakdown Protection Coverage Form is designed to dovetail with ISO's Building and Personal Property Coverage Form and its causes of loss forms. The property causes of loss forms exclude coverage provided by the equipment breakdown form and cover perils excluded by the equipment breakdown form. For example, the property forms exclude explosion of steam boilers, which are covered by equipment breakdown form. On the other hand, the property forms cover the explosion of gases in the furnace of a boiler, an excluded peril on the equipment breakdown form.

This article was updated to reflect changes made to the 2013 Equipment Breakdown Coverage Form. See Joint Loss Agreements.