Wrong Place, Wrong Time – Breweries and Restaurants!

A fermenter vessel at a brewery malfunctioned. The tank discharged a large volume of waste into a nearby stream, causing damage to many aquatic plants and fish. The local regulatory authority issued fines to the operator of the brewery for the unauthorized discharge. In addition, an environmental group filed property damage suits.

The insured purchased a yacht club facility that included a marina and a building that housed a restaurant, bar, boat shop, and other stores. Unbeknownst to the insured, the commercial freezer from the restaurant was leaking into the wall shared with the boat shop due to excessive condensation. An employee of the boat shop claimed that she had suffered bodily injury from alleged exposure to mold. The insured was faced with a civil lawsuit and the need to remediate the mold damage.

An old brewery had undergone several renovations throughout the years. Improper closure of an old fermentation tank and onsite surface impoundment had allowed gradual seepage into the groundwater. The contaminated groundwater was a central water supply for a neighboring community. Extensive groundwater remediation and emergency water supply for residents was required.

A restaurant owner purchased a property that seemed suitable for redevelopment. Prior to their purchase, the owner went through proper due diligence and conducted a Phase I site assessment. The Phase I did not note any known contamination onsite, but as the company began construction, they discovered petroleum contamination from an unknown heating oil tank. As a result, construction halted, and the company incurred remediation expenses.