AIG must defend companies in suit over injuries from sterilization facilities

A federal district court has ruled that an American International Group Inc. unit must defend two companies in litigation filed over injuries suffered as a result of sterilization facilities in a residential community.

Residents of Willowbrook, Illinois, filed suit against Alsip, Illinois-based Griffith Foods International Inc. and Oak Brook, Illinois-based Sterigenics U.S. LLC contending they had suffered injuries from the companies’ operation of sterilization facilities which exposed them to ethylene oxide discharges, according to Wednesday’s ruling in Sterigenics U.S. LLC v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA and Griffith Foods International Inc. et al. v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. Of Pittsburgh, PA.

They filed separate but related lawsuits against AIG unit National Union seeking defense and indemnification.

The ruling focused on AIG’s duty to defend both companies. The litigation “alleges body and personal injury that triggers coverage under the Policies, and National Union has not met its burden and demonstrating that any exclusions apply,” the decision said, in holding that AIG has a duty to defend the companies.

Attorneys in the case did not respond to requests for comment.