Travelers is taking the National Football League to court over a demand that the insurer defend the league against a lawsuit over wrongfully administered pain medication filed by former players, reports the Hartford Courant.
In May, more than 500 former NFL players filed a suit against the NFL, claiming they were encouraged to take painkillers and keep playing while injured, leading to more serious injuries.
According to its lawsuit, Travelers says the NFL demanded that the insurer defend and indemnify the league in the case. Travelers issued excess liability policies to the NFL from 1991 to 2002, but claims that the bodily injuries the players allege in their lawsuit didn't occur during the Travelers' policy period, and therefore, they should not be required to pay. Travelers also said the injuries were “expected or intended by the NFL,” so they do not meet the criteria of an unexpected loss that would require insurance coverage.
Travelers is asking the court to declare whether it must defend the league and pay for possible losses or reimburse other insurers for costs resulting from the suit. Travelers says it is not required to pay any losses resulting from the lawsuit.
In addition to the NFL, Travelers lists as defendants 26 insurers that is says sold liability policies to the league. Among the 26 companies cited in the lawsuit are Allstate Insurance Co., Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. and Chartis Specialty Insurance Co.
Read more from Matthew Sturdevant at The Hartford Courant HERE.
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