The Insurance Industry and Asbestos

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.

The Enterprise Liability Discussion Group 1976

Representatives from companies such as Chubb & Son Inc., Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., and the Zurich Insurance Co. met on November 10, 1976 in New York City at the offices of the American Insurance Association to discuss lawsuits including those for  Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and asbestosis. The minutes of the meeting state in part that:

"Asbestosis produces no early recognizable symptoms. Microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled into the tiny air passages of the lungs, forming small knots of fibrous tissue, after long exposure. As the tissue thickens in the lungs, sever shortness of breath may develop, along with infection, emphysema, and other ailments, including the type of cancer known as mesothelioma."

The insurance representatives discussed the asbestos lawsuit of Clarence Borel against Fibreboard and other abestos manufacturers. The lawsuit was filed in the late 1960s. Mr. Borel was an insulator who contracted asbestosis and mesothelioma. A jury in Beaumont, Texas returned a verdict for Mr. Borel against the asbestos manufacturers, and the award was upheld by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1973.

The Enterprise Liabilty discussion group would meet again on April 21, 1977.