Travelers Indemnity Seeks Claims Limit in Western Penn. Turnpike Mess

An insurance company says its liability for a pre-Thanksgiving asphalt spill on the Pennsylvania Turnpike should be limited to $1 million.

Hundreds of vehicles were reportedly damaged when a leaking valve on a tanker spread the gooey substance over part of the turnpike in western Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Monday that Travelers Indemnity Co. says it has received more than 900 claims from the incident.

The paper reports that Travelers says in the lawsuit that since the claims are likely to exceed the $1 million provided by a policy, a federal judge should decide who receives compensation from that sum. Travelers also is seeking a ruling that it’s not liable for damages under two other policies held by MTS Transport, the trucking company.

Latest Comments

• December 19, 2011 at 11:46 am

  Insurance veteran says:

  This was not a contractor working on the turnpike. It was a truck carrying roofing asphalt to a job site. The other 2 policies are a GL policy and an inland marine policy. ... read more
• December 19, 2011 at 11:09 am

  caffiend says:

  If I recall right, the most that they would have needed to carry would likely have been 750k CSL if the cargo was classified as Property (nonhazardous). I'd have to doubleche... read more
• December 14, 2011 at 5:23 pm

  The Other Point of View says:

  It's an interpleader, not a declaratory judgment. Docket No. 2:11-cv-01567-JFC. That means they admit coverage and want to pay the limits but they don't know who should get th... read more