Insurance Policy Interpretation: Navigating Plain Meaning, Ambiguity, Special Rules Applicable to Exclusions, Extrinsic Evidence and Burden of Proof
Advocating Coverage From Policyholder and Insurer Perspectives
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A
This CLE program will discuss these and other general rules for interpreting insurance policies, with particular focus on recent cases that illustrate the differing approaches courts have taken to applying them. The program will look at the issues from both sides—policyholder and insurer.
Outline
- Overview of general rules of policy interpretation
- Why should special rules apply to insurance policies?
- What constitutes ambiguity?
- Language susceptible to two or more reasonable interpretations
- Clear policy provisions conflict
- Use of extrinsic evidence or “contextual cues”
- Special rules applicable to interpretation of policy exclusions
- Burden of proof
- Recent case law
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- General rules applicable to the interpretation of insurance policies
- Determining whether policy language is ambiguous
- Special rules applied to interpreting exclusions and resolving ambiguities
- Circumstances in which extrinsic evidence or contextual clues may be used by courts to aid in interpretation
Faculty

Frank J. DeAngelis
Partner
Mound Cotton Wollan & Greengrass
Mr. DeAngelis has close to 20 years of experience in domestic and international litigation. His experience includes... | Read More
Mr. DeAngelis has close to 20 years of experience in domestic and international litigation. His experience includes first- and third- party coverage and claims defense, multi-layered policy defense of complex property losses, reinsurance, and property and casualty defense, all-risk and builder's risk policy defense, weather related catastrophic losses, and environmental contamination, among others. He has tried cases and argued appeals throughout the U.S and has authored articles on litigation practice and emerging insurance issues.
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Alex J. Lathrop
Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Mr. Lathrop focuses his practice on assisting corporate policyholders recover from their insurers. He has assisted... | Read More
Mr. Lathrop focuses his practice on assisting corporate policyholders recover from their insurers. He has assisted clients with large, complex losses in a wide array of industries – ranging from energy, oil and gas, railroad, and large manufacturing companies, to emerging internet, technology and medical device companies – to obtain coverage under every major form of insurance. He has particular expertise in recovery of environmental losses under CGL policies.
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