Mealey's (August 2, 2016, 1:09 PM EDT) -- CHICAGO — Each umbrella and excess policy at issue in an asbestos coverage dispute must be individually construed to determine if a vertical or horizontal exhaustion method applies to the policy, an Illinois judge said July 21, rejecting an insured’s argument that a vertical exhaustion method should be applied to all excess and umbrella policies (John Crane Inc. v. Admiral Insurance Co., et al., No. 04-CH-08266, Ill. Cir., Cook Co.).

(Opinion available. Document #03-160803-006Z.)

John Crane Inc. manufactured and sold products containing asbestos. It has been...