Wolverine World Wide PFAS, Rockford (Michigan)
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
Wolverine World Wide, whose Rockford, Michigan operations are linked in the record to tannery PFAS from Scotchgard, sued its legacy insurers in December 2018. A federal court held in 2021 that they owed a duty to defend.
As reported in the company's Form 10-K for fiscal 2020. Confidential insurer settlements followed in 2024; their amounts were not disclosed.
Status As of August 2024: confidential settlements reported with one insurer (June) and Travelers (August); the record shows no later development.
- Wolverine World Wide — Recovered $8.3 million from legacy insurance policies in fiscal 2020 Wolverine World Wide (SEC filing)
- Legacy insurers (American Insurance Co., units of Travelers) — Found in 2021 to owe a duty to defend; confidential settlements in 2024
What happened
The record available for this case concerns insurance. It describes PFAS from Scotchgard associated with the tannery at Wolverine World Wide's Rockford, Michigan site, but it does not set out the contamination itself, its extent or its dates.
In December 2018 Wolverine sued its legacy insurers, among them American Insurance Co. and units of Travelers. In 2021 the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan held that the insurers owed a duty to defend, because the allegations left open whether the discharges were "sudden or accidental" or "unexpected or unintended". The ruling falls under the qualified "sudden and accidental" pollution exclusion found in policies of about 1973 to 1985.
Wolverine reported in its 10-K for fiscal 2020 that it had recovered $8.3 million from legacy policies. Law360 reported confidential settlements in June 2024 with one insurer and in August 2024 with Travelers.
Some sources cite a figure of $69.5 million in connection with the company. the sources reviewed describe it as Wolverine's own 2020 settlement with the state and townships, not an insurer payment, and mark that description as unverified.
- 2018December: Wolverine sues its legacy insurers (American Insurance Co., units of Travelers and others)
- 2020$8.3 million recovered from legacy policies in fiscal 2020, per the company's 10-K
- 2021W.D. Mich. holds the insurers owed a duty to defend under the "sudden or accidental" exception
- 2024Confidential settlements reported: one insurer in June, Travelers in August
What was said
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Sued its legacy insurers in December 2018.
Held in 2021 that the insurers had a duty to defend, because the allegations left open whether the discharges were "sudden or accidental" or "unexpected or unintended".
How it looked
Shown
Recorded
- Wolverine sued its legacy insurers, including American Insurance Co. and units of Travelers, in December 2018.
- In 2021 the Western District of Michigan found a duty to defend, because the allegations left open whether discharges were "sudden or accidental" or "unexpected or unintended".
- $8.3 million was recovered from legacy policies in fiscal 2020.
- Confidential settlements were reported in June 2024 (one insurer) and August 2024 (Travelers), as reported by Law360.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- wolverine-world-wide (fiscal 2020): Reported in its 10-K for fiscal 2020 that $8.3 million had been recovered from legacy policies. · Wolverine World Wide (SEC filing)
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2018-12–2021Claimant wonWolverine World Wide coverage suit against legacy insurersUS District Court, Western District of Michigan · Civil · Wolverine World Wide → American Insurance Co., units of Travelers and other legacy insurers
The court held in 2021 that the insurers owed a duty to defend. Confidential settlements with one insurer (June 2024) and Travelers (August 2024) were later reported by Law360.
Insurers
- 2018In litigation$8.3m Recovered from legacy policies in fiscal 2020 (millions)American Insurance Co., units of Travelers and other legacy insurers → Wolverine World Wide
Wolverine sued its legacy insurers in December 2018. The Western District of Michigan found a duty to defend in 2021. Wolverine recovered $8.3 million from legacy policies in fiscal 2020 and confidential settlements followed in 2024. Wolverine World Wide (SEC filing)
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Accounts
- Disputed Did the legacy insurers owe Wolverine a defence for PFAS claims?
Record
- None on record The amounts of the June 2024 and August 2024 insurer settlements: confidential.
- Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: the $69.5 million figure that appears in some sources is Wolverine's own 2020 settlement with the state and townships, not an insurer payment.
Did the harm stop?
Who paid?
Legacy insurers: $8.3 million recovered by Wolverine in fiscal 2020, followed by confidential settlements in 2024.
Sources
Company or project
- Wolverine World Wide annual report on Form 10-K, fiscal 2020Wolverine World Wide (SEC filing) · FY2020
Connected cases
- Courts weigh insurance coverage for asbestos and PFAS liabilities in US cases United States · 2024
- Wolverine World Wide (Company) — here: Insured; claimant in the coverage suit; there: company that sued its legacy insurers over PFAS discharges at its Rockford tannery
- Travelers (Insurer) — here: Legacy insurer (units named as defendants); there: legacy insurer (Travelers units) sued by Wolverine; settled in August 2024
- American Insurance Co. (Insurer) — here: Legacy insurer; there: legacy insurer sued by Wolverine