Opinion ID: 1734320
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ducote v. Koch Pipeline Co

Text: In Ducote, Ramona Ducote and her husband sued Koch Industries, Inc., parent company of Gulf Central Pipeline Company, for injuries received when Ramona Ducote was exposed to anhydrous ammonia. See Ducote v. Koch Pipeline Co., 98-0942, pp. 1-2 (La.1/20/99), 730 So.2d 432, 434-35. Alexander & Ainsworth Contractors were subcontracted to cut the grass along an ammonia transmission line owned and operated by Gulf Central in Avoyelles Parish. See id. 98-0942 at 1, 730 So.2d at 434. Alexander & Ainsworth was insured by First Financial Indemnity Company, and Gulf Central was insured by Commercial Union Insurance Company. See id. On September 11, 1995, an employee of Alexander & Ainsworth was cutting the grass along the Koch pipeline when his tractor overturned and the blade of the bushhog struck the pipeline, rupturing it. See id. 98-0942 at 2, 730 So.2d at 435. Ramona Ducote sued Koch Pipeline for injures allegedly sustained because of the release of the anhydrous ammonia. In response to Ducote's claim, Koch filed third party demands against Alexander & Ainsworth, First Financial, Commercial Union, and various other entities. First Financial and Commercial Union filed motions for summary judgment seeking to deny coverage based on pollution exclusion clauses in each of their policies. The clauses in Ducote were identical to the exclusion in this case in every respect except for an inconsequential difference in this case, i.e., the final paragraph of the exclusion in this case (the hostile fire exception) was not present in the Ducote exclusions. This court, in a 4-3 decision, held that the pollution exclusions prevented the Ducotes from recovering from the insurers under their CGL policies. See id. 98-0942 at 5, 730 So.2d at 437. Specifically, the majority reasoned that the language in the first paragraph of the exclusion was unambiguous in its exclusion of any damages or injury and that this preclusion of coverage was explicit. See id. 98-0942 at 4, 730 So.2d at 436. Further, the majority found that nothing in the exclusion limited its applicability to active industrial polluters or businesses which knowingly emit pollutants over a period of time. Id. Finally, the majority found that the exclusion applies regardless of whether the release was intentional or accidental, a one-time event or part of an on-going pattern of pollution. Id. 98-0942 at 4-5, 730 So.2d at 437. Therefore, this court found that the pollution exclusion in the insurance policy precluded coverage for the plaintiffs' claims. [4]