Fifth Circuit Grapples With Reality TV Show Insurance Exclusion

A federal appeals panel appeared to struggle with how to interpret an insurance exclusion for reality TV and whether it bars coverage for litigation from a show’s former participants alleging they suffered mental harm.

Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co., a Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. unit, has the burden to show that the exclusion is unambiguous, and it must put forth an “intelligible principle” for distinguishing a reality show, Chad Flores of Flores Law PLLC, who represents TV studio Megalomedia, told the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit during oral arguments Monday.

The underlying litigation stems from a show Megalomedia ...