The Insurance Industry and Asbestos

The Continental Casualty Company

The Continental Casualty Company, not to be confused with the Continental Insurance Company of New York, was founded in 1897 as the Continental Assurance Company of North America and was renamed the Continental Casualty Company in 1900. In 1967 the insurance group that the Continental Casualty Company was a part of reorganized under the name CNA Financial Corporation.

Ratings Manual

A pre-World War I Continental Casualty Company ratings manual rated some occupations that involved the asbestos industry, such as pipe or boiler coverers, and the manual further stated that:

This manual takes effect from and after this date and the instructions and classifications herein contained until rescinded must be followed by all officers, employes [sic] and agents in securing, rating or accepting applications for Industrial and Monthly Commercial policies in this Company.

The Continental Insurance Company of New York

Continental Insurance was founded in 1853. Here's an excerpt of an 1869 Continental financial statement. In its past, Continental was a part of the Amercian Fore Group and the American Fore Loyalty Group which included The Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York. In 1995 Continental merged with CNA Financial Corporation. Continental has insured several asbestos fiber suppliers and product manufacturers. 

Here is a partial list of Continetal's environmental claim defendants from June of 1983. Along with asbestos defendants, the list includes silca and DES defendants as well as defendants with claims types such as pollution, hydrocarbons, and multiple chemicals.