Zurich Insurance Unit Sues Over Oil Waste Disposal Litigation

A Zurich Insurance Group AG unit sued several Texas energy companies seeking a ruling it has no duty to pay their costs in underlying litigation alleging their oil waste disposal facilities caused contamination.

In underlying 2021 cases filed in Oklahoma state court, plaintiffs accused Superior Energy Services and Select Water Solutions of contaminating their land and groundwater with saltwater and other pollutants from the disposal facilities.

But Superior breached conditions required for insurance coverage under the pollution liability policy, the claims stem from preexisting events excluded by the policy, and at least one of the facilities isn’t covered, Steadfast Insurance ...