The "Employment-Related Practices" Exclusion and Post-Employment Conduct

General liability insurance policies issued to employers typically insure the employer as named insured and the employer's senior executives to the extent that claims arise from their performance of duties in their capacity as executives for the company. In recent years, a number of courts across the country have considered whether the employment-related practices exclusion applies to claims based on acts that occurred after the claimant's employment has ended. The general rule seems to be that the exclusion applies to post-employment claims, and that therefore insurance coverage is not available. This is clearly reflected in the recent decision by the Supreme Court of Iowa, in Talen v. Employers Mutual Cas. Co.