Maryland Casualty Co. v. Blackstone International Ltd.

Under Maryland law, an insurance company has a duty to defend its insured for any claims brought against it that are potentially covered under the insured’s policy. Thus, a duty to defend may extend even beyond instances in which an insured is liable and the insurer must indemnify. In this case, we must assess whether an insurance company had a duty to defend its insured under a commercial general liability policy’s “advertising injury” clause against a suit sounding in breach of contract and arising out of a joint business venture.

FACTS AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS1

The Business Venture

In October…