Columbia Casualty Co. v. Westfield Insurance

Justice STARCHER delivered the Opinion of the Court.

STARCHER, J.

In the instant case we conclude that under a liability insurance policy issued to the Ran dolph County Commission, there is potential insurance coverage for claims made against the commission by the estates of two inmates who committed suicide in the Randolph County jail — because, when the policy language is applied to and from the perspective or standpoint of the county commission, the deaths were “occurrences” under the insurance policy’s terms.

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Facts & Background

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has…