Court rejects Travelers' pollution exclusion appeal in Syngenta paraquat battle

Delaware’s highest court has rejected Travelers’ appeal, upholding the insurer’s obligation to defend Syngenta in over 10,000 paraquat injury lawsuits. The court found that the pollution exclusion clause in policies from 1974-1977 applies only to traditional environmental pollution, not the paraquat claims. While Travelers received a partial win regarding defense costs reducing policy limits in later policies, the Superior Court’s ruling stands for now, and the underlying litigation will continue.