Goooooooooooal…….for the Insurance Company

May 14, 2014

In this insurance dispute, the United States Youth Soccer Association (“USYSA”) sought coverage form its liability insurer for claims filed against it by the National Association of Competitive Soccer Clubs (“NACSC”).  The NACSC alleged that USYSA had violated the bylaws of the governing board for soccer in the United States, the USSF, by discriminating against certain youth soccer players who want to play for both organizations.  The Court upheld the insurers denial of coverage based on the policy exclusion that precludes coverage for claims based on a breach of contract.  Employing the “eight corners” rule, the Court found that the allegations in the underlying lawsuit relate to breaches of the USSF bylaws, policies rules and regulations, which, in the Court’s view, constituted a breach of contract.

Arch Ins. Co. v. U.S. Youth Soccer Ass’n