Insurance Co. Seeks Declaration to Avoid Possible “All Natural” Putative Class Action Payout

Months after a Florida federal court rejected a motion to dismiss a putative class action alleging that Bodacious Foods falsely labeled its cookies as “all natural,” The Cincinnati Insurance Co. has filed a lawsuit seeking a declaration that the policy the food manufacturer holds with it does not cover costs stemming from the alleged false labeling. The Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Bodacious Food Co., No. 14-81515 (S.D. Fla., filed December 4, 2014).

The insurance company asserts that Bodacious’s policy excludes coverage for the allegations of the putative class action, including (i) “’bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ which may reasonably be expected to result from the intentional acts of the insured”; (ii) “’personal or advertising injury’ caused by or at the direction of the insured with the knowledge that the act would violate the rights of another”; and (iii) “’personal and advertising injury’ arising out of oral or written publication of material, if done by or at the direction of the insured with knowledge of its falsity.” Cincinnati argues that Bodacious has indicated it believes the policy covers the claims of the underlying lawsuit, creating an actual controversy for the court to determine. Additional information about the underlying lawsuit appears in Issue 537 of this Update.

Issue 548