Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog

For decades, homeowners and other insurance policies have included broad pollution exclusions, often referred to as a “total pollution exclusion.” In a recent decision in Wheeler v. Garrison Prop. & Cas. Ins., No. S-18849 (Alaska Feb. 28, 2025), the Alaska Supreme Court held that a “total pollution exclusion” in a homeowners insurance policy did not apply to exclude coverage for injury arising out of exposure to carbon monoxide emitted by an improperly installed home appliance. Examining the breadth of the exclusion and applying the generally held principle that exclusions are to be construed narrowly, the court thus fulfilled the policyholder’s reasonable expectation of coverage for injuries resulting from the carbon monoxide exposure. 

Theft in the cargo industry has skyrocketed in recent years. In the first half of 2024, cargo thefts rose 49 percent and the average loss per shipment by 83 percent. Given these dramatic spikes in cargo theft, policyholders whose operations rely on the safe transportation and trade of cargo should take steps to mitigate against the potential losses of a cargo-theft event. We discuss below the insurance coverage options available to policyholders that can help protect against the risks and losses associated with cargo-related theft if such a loss occurs.