State Farm Sues to Duck Landlord’s Discrimination Litigation

A US Justice Department lawsuit alleging a Springfield, Mo., landlord violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants isn’t covered by the landlord’s insurance policy, a State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. unit said in a lawsuit.

The landlord’s business liability coverage excluded injury stemming from “expected or intended” harm or “willful and malicious, or criminal acts of the insured,” State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. said in a complaint filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

The government’s underlying suit was filed in March and named the landlord, Jimmie Bell, individually ...