286 N.J. Super. 24 (1995) 668 A.2d 67 AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION; AMERICAN HOME FOODS, INC.; AYERST LABORATORIES, INC.; AYERST-WYETH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; SHERWOOD MEDICAL COMPANY; AND WYETH LABORATORIES, INC., PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS
v.
ADRIATIC INSURANCE COMPANY (ALSO KNOWN AS RIUNIONE ADRIATICA DI SICURTA); THE AETNA CASUALTY & SURETY COMPANY; AFFILIATED FM INSURANCE COMPANY; AIU INSURANCE COMPANY; ALLIANZ UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY; ALL-STATE INSURANCE COMPANY (AS SUCCESSOR TO NORTHBROOK EXCESS AND SURPLUS INSURANCE COMPANY AND NORTHBROOK INSURANCE COMPANY); AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY; AMERICAN REINSURANCE COMPANY; BIRMINGHAM FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA; CALIFORNIA UNION INSURANCE COMPANY; CENTRAL NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF OMAHA; CITY INSURANCE COMPANY; CONTINENTAL CASUALTY COMPANY; THE CONTINENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY; FIRST STATE INSURANCE COMPANY; FORUM INSURANCE COMPANY; GENERAL REINSURANCE CORPORATION; GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY; GRANITE STATE INSURANCE COMPANY; HARTFORD ACCIDENT AND INDEMNITY COMPANY; THE HOME INSURANCE COMPANY; INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA; INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA; INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY; INTERNATIONAL SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY; LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY; LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY; LONDON GUARANTEE AND ACCIDENT COMPANY OF NEW YORK; NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF PITTSBURGH, PA.; NEW ENGLAND INSURANCE COMPANY; NORTH STAR REINSURANCE CORPORATION; PACIFIC INSURANCE COMPANY; PROTECTIVE NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF OMAHA; ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY; SAFETY MUTUAL CASUALTY CORPORATION; UNIGARD SECURITY INSURANCE COMPANY; UNIONE ITALIANA REINSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA; UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY; CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S, LONDON AND LONDON MARKET INSURANCE COMPANIES; ALTE LEIPZIGER VERSICHERUNG A.G.; COLONIA INSURANCE COMPANY (ALSO KNOWN AS COLONIA VERSICHERUNG A.G.); GOTHAER VERSICHERUNGSBANK VVAG; AND HAFTPFLICHTVERBANK DER DEUTSCHEN INDUSTRIES V.A.G., DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS, AMERICAN CENTENNIAL INSURANCE COMPANY; ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY (AS SUCCESSOR TO DRAKE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK); COMMERCIAL UNION INSURANCE COMPANY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS EMPLOYERS' COMMERCIAL UNION INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA); EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ASSURANCE CORPORATION, LIMITED (DOING BUSINESS AS COMMERCIAL UNION INSURANCE COMPANY); FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY; GIBRALTAR CASUALTY COMPANY; LUMBERMEN MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY; NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY; NEW ENGLAND REINSURANCE CORPORATION; PRUDENTIAL REINSURANCE COMPANY; PURITAN INSURANCE COMPANY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MANHATTAN FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY); REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY; TRANSAMERICA INSURANCE COMPANY; THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY; LE ASSICURAZIONI D'ITALIA; ASSURANCES GENERALES DE FRANCE I.A.R.T.; BERMUDA FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.; LE CENTRE MUTUEL; CHEMICAL INSURANCE COMPANY; COMPAGNIE NOUVELLE D'ASSURANCES; EISEN UND STAHL; EXCESS INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.; LA FONCIERE COMPAGNIE D'ASSURANCES ET DE REASSURANCES; GERLING-KONZERN ALLEGEMEINE VERSICHERUNGS-AG; GROUPE D'ASSURANCES MUTUELLES; INSCO, LIMITED; MENTOR INSURANCE LIMITED, UK; NISSHIN FIRE & MARINE; NORTHUMBERLAND GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY; LA PRESERVATRICE; ROYALE BELGE I.R.S.A. D'ASSURANCE; LE SECOURS; SOCIETE LILLOISE D'ASSURANCE; SWISS REINSURANCE COMPANY; L'UNION DES ASSURANCES DE PARIS I.S.R.D.; ZURICH INTERNATIONAL LTD., DEFENDANTS. Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.
Argued October 18, 1995. Decided December 11, 1995. *28 Before Judges KING, LANDAU and KLEINER.
Gary Hoppe argued the cause for appellants (Manta & Welge, attorneys for Liberty Mutual Ins. Co.; Stephen F. Brock and Michael E. Twomey of the firm Aron, Twomey, Hoppe & Galanty, of counsel).
William B. McGuire argued the cause for appellants (Tompkins, McGuire & Wachenfeld, attorneys for appellants London Market Insurers, Royale Belge Societe Anonym, Excess Ins. Co.,