“Contractual liability” exclusion in Texas CGL policy

The Court adddressed the contractual liability exclusion in a Texas CGL policy in the case of Ewing Construction v. Amerisure Insurance, No. 11-40512 (June 15, 2012).  The Court applied the “plain language of the exclusion,” guided by Gilbert Texas Construction LP v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s London, 327 S.W.3d 118 (Tex. 2010), and concluded that it reached a contractual commitment to complete a construction project.  Op. at 8.  The Court then examined whether an exception applied for liability that would exist even without the contract, and concluded that there was no such liability under Texas’s “con-tort” cases.  Id. at 9 (quoting Southwestern Bell v. DeLanney, 809 S.W.2d 493 (Tex. 1991).  The Court concluded by deferring the issue of the duty to indemnify, and acknowledging a point raised by the dissent about overlap between the “contract” and “your work” exclusions in a typical CGL contract.  Id. at 10.