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Article: Cleanup coverage disputes denied jury trial in New Jersey. (New Jersey Supreme Court decision on right to jury trial)
- Article from:
- Business Insurance
- Article date:
- May 26, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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TRENTON, N.J. - Policyholders that sue general liability insurers in New Jersey for a defense and for coverage of future pollution cleanup costs no longer can obtain jury trials.
As a result of a state Supreme Court's May 12 decision, policyholders facing environmental liabilities no longer will be able to play the morality issue with jurors by portraying themselves as the victims of unresponsive insurers, said policyholder attorney William Greany of Covington & Burling in Washington.
And, insurers now may litigate rather than settle more coverage disputes, he said. That is because bench trials are less expensive than jury trials and can be brought to trial ...