The Next New Thing: Coverage Issues from Fracking Claims

Every few years it seems that there are predictions a new type of claim that threatens to engulf carriers. In the 1980s and 1990s it was environmental clean up claims and SuperFund, followed shortly by asbestos, the fear of Y2K claims, MTBE and any number of other potential mass torts. In most cases, these highly touted risks fail to become the massive tidal wave projected by commentators. Unfortunately, some of these problems, such as hazardous waste and asbestos claims, did grow into large numbers of claims that continue to fill the courts with liability and coverage litigation.