Markel Unit Loses Bid to Avoid Coverage for Failure to Pay Suit

A Markel Group Inc. insurer is on the hook for defense costs and attorneys’ fees stemming from a merchant agreement dispute between a public records search engine, its CEO, and a credit card processing servicer.

When a civil action includes various counts, each one is evaluated on whether it’s covered by an insurance policy under New Jersey precedent, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey said in a Thursday opinion. Because one of the underlying claims here was based at least partly on fraud, a contract exclusion doesn’t apply, Judge Jamel K. Semper said.

The contract ...