A smokeless-tobacco company in Memphis, Tenn. has asked its insurers to pay about $10 million in defense costs related to a single wrongful death lawsuit, insurance attorneys contend.
Meanwhile, the significance of the first coverage dispute between a tobacco company and its insurers is underscored by an effort by tobacco companies to get access to 279,480 insurance documents related to the so-called "Falise" action filed by asbestos makers against the tobacco industry.
The defense costs were connected to a wrongful death suit-Hutson v. Conwood-filed in Texas State Court in Beamont. The case, which was recently dismissed, is subject to be refiled.
