Opinion ID: 1666262
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: statement of the underlying facts

Text: ¶ 5. This insurance coverage action involves many underlying claimants alleging both bodily injury and property damage in Mississippi based on alleged exposure to asbestos in plants and factories in Mississippi. The State also filed an underlying action alleging property damage to state owned buildings by the installation of asbestos or asbestos containing products. One of the defendants in each of these underlying claims is the appellant in this case, MetLife. MetLife has turned to its insurers for coverage of such claims. The primary insurance carrier is Travelers Indemnity Company. The Aetna policies at issue in this litigation follow form to underlying policies issued by the Travelers Indemnity Company, except as otherwise provided in endorsements thereto. ¶ 6. The case sub judice is a contract action in which MetLife seeks to recover under contracts of insurance issued by the appellees between 1976 and 1986. The appellees in this action, Aetna Casualty & Surety Company (hereinafter Aetna), City Insurance Company, Home Insurance Company (hereinafter collectively referred to as Home) [1] , and National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (hereafter National Union), are national liability insurance companies (hereinafter collectively referred to as appellees). These appellees issued insurance policies to MetLife which are termed excess policies. New York and Connecticut were the center of all contracting and claims handling activity on MetLife's insurance program. Johnson & Higgins, the insurance broker which places the policies for MetLife, is located in New York. MetLife is a New York Corporation with its headquarters in New York City. Aetna is a Connecticut corporation with its home office in Hartford, Connecticut. None of the other appellees are incorporated or have their principal place of business in Mississippi. However, all four appellees as well as MetLife do business within the State of Mississippi and have extensive connections with this state.