ELR Citation: ELR 20913
No(s). 89-1481 (8th Cir. Mar 8, 1991)

The court holds that hazardous waste cleanup costs are not "damages" under comprehensive general liability insurance policies. The district court properly determined that the Eighth Circuit's en banc decision in Continental Insurance Co. v. Northeastern Pharmaceutical & Chemical Co. (NEPACCO), 18 ELR 20819, required it to hold that the policies in question do not provide coverage. The district court determined that NEPACCO, which construed Missouri law, controls this case because Arkansas law on the interpretation of insurance contracts is not substantially different from Missouri law. The court holds that the district court properly interpreted Arkansas law.

Counsel for Appellants
Stephen G. Weil
Anderson, Kill, Olick & Oshinsky
2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 7500, Washington DC 20006
(202) 728-3100

Counsel for Appellees
Roger E. Warin
Steptoe & Johnson
1330 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036
(202) 429-3000

Before ARNOLD and WOLLMAN, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD R. GIBSON, Senior Circuit Judge.